BIOL 2341: Introduction to Genetics
In this introduction to a fascinating and controversial area of contemporary science, students are presented with basic terms, principles, and research methods used in the study of genetics. Students learn about the transmission, distribution, arrangement, and alteration of genetic information and how it functions and is maintained in populations.
Learning outcomes
- Describe the basic Mendelian principles of heredity and use those principles to analyze genetic data.
- Recognize the common extensions to Mendelian inheritance, including multiple alleles, lethal alleles, pleiotropy, epistasis, and sex-linkage.
- Describe the phenomenon of recombination in the context of meiosis and use recombination frequencies to construct genetic linkage maps.
- Write a concise well-ordered argument in paragraph form, drawing upon sound scientific evidence.
Course topics
- Unit 1: Basic Principles of Heredity
- Unit 2: Genes and Biochemical Pathways
- Unit 3: Linkage, Generic Recombination, and Mapping
Required text and materials
The following Open Education Resource (OER) textbook, free of charge, is required for this course:
- Ramroop Singh, N. (2021). Open Genetics [adapted]. Thompson Rivers University. Retrieved June 30, 2021, https://opengenetics.pressbooks.tru.ca/
Assessments
Please be aware that should your course have a final exam, you are responsible for the fee to the online proctoring service, ProctorU, or to the in-person approved Testing Centre. Please contact exams@tru.ca with any questions about this.
To successfully complete this course, students must achieve a passing grade of 50% or higher on the overall course, and 50% or higher on the final mandatory exam.
| Assignment 1: Basic Principles of Heredity Worksheet | 15% |
| Unit 1 Quiz | 10% |
| Assignment 2: Genes and Biochemical Pathways Worksheet | 15% |
| Unit 2 Quiz | 10% |
| Assignment 3: Linkage, Genetic Recombination, and Mapping Worksheet | 15% |
| Unit 3 Quiz | 10% |
| Final Exam (mandatory) | 25% |
| Total | 100% |
Open Learning Faculty Member Information
An Open Learning Faculty Member is available to assist students. Students will receive the necessary contact information at the start of the course.
