Agronomy 315 Genetics Non-Credit Online Course Syllabus

Transcription

1 Agronomy 315 Genetics Non-Credit Online Course Syllabus Instructors: Deanna Leingang, MS, CGC Primary Instructor Dr. Don Lee, 262 Plant Sciences, , Secondary Instructor at home Dr. Deana Namuth-Covert, Director Plant Breeding and Genetics Certificate Program Diane Nolan, Computer Information Assistant, Contact Diane for problems with the site Objectives: The course is divided into three units and weekly lessons for each unit. Learning objectives are listed in the folder for each lesson. Overall course objectives are listed below. Grading: Problem Sets: (260 points) There are a total of 13 Problem Set Quizzes offered throughout the semester. These problem set quizzes may be accessed by clicking on the AGRO315 Genetics link below Courses at the bottom left of the passel page; this link will take you to the Moodle sub-course. The topic areas in Moodle will be divided out by content that is covered within each problem set. Within each topic area, you will find approximately 3-4 hours worth of lecture material, supplemental links and documents, and a Word document of the Problem Set. After completing the problem set questions in the Word document, you may attempt the Problem Set Quiz. The Problem Set Quiz and Discussion Posts are the only portion of each lesson that are graded, and your pass/fail status in the course is based on these scores. Discussion Posts/Concept Questions: (50 points) Online students will complete their oral questions using the discussion forum feature in Moodle. You will post your detailed response showing comprehension of the oral question and weekly content. Initially, you will not be required to post replies to your classmates unless specifically stated for that week s assignment; however, I encourage you to use the discussion forum to generate ideas about the oral questions, as they are usually completed as a group in the on-campus class setting.

2 Supplemental Learning Materials: The following content is available to you in Moodle, but is OPTIONAL and will not count toward your course grade. You may use these materials for your own learning to help you better understand the lecture and course content. elibrary (PASSeL) Lessons and Associated Quizzes: In each topic area, you will find links to any elibrary lessons that may accompany that topic. These readings are OPTIONAL, but many students find them extremely helpful in understanding the lecture material on a deeper level. Many of these lessons have quizzes that accompany them. You may use these quizzes to check your understanding of content, but they are not required and will not count toward your pass/fail status in the course. Optional Extra Credit: Several extra credit assignments will be available to you throughout the semester for you to earn up to 20 extra points. These will be posted to the discussion board and announced to you via . Grades/Passing: Grading is criterion based, not curved. There are a total of 310 points available in the course. We will total the points you earned in problem set quizzes and discussion posts, add the extra credit if you successfully completed it, and assign final grades based on the following scale: 100%-70% : Passing Grade/Successful Course Completion 69% and below : Failing Grade (you may not procede to the remainder of the Plant Breeding and Genetics Certificate courses) Course Structure / Lesson Topics/ Lesson Quizzes The course is divided into three parts. The lesson topics and on-line lesson quizzes go with these three parts as follows below. **If a student completes one topic area per week, the course may be completed in as little as 13 weeks. However, students in the self-paced course have approximately 26 weeks (6 months) to complete the course. To stay on track, it may help to complete at least one lesson/topic area every two weeks. Part I: Inheritance in Families and Populations Monohybrid Crosses (Topic 1) Pedigrees (Topic 1) Dihybrid Crosses (Topic 1) Lack of Dominance (Topic 2)

3 Epistasis (Topic 2) Quantitative Genetics (Topic 2) Population Genetics (Topic 3) Chi-Square Analysis (Topic 3) Sex Linked Inheritance (Topic 3) Unit 1 Review (Covers information from Topics 1-3) Part II: Chromosomes Gene Mapping Cell Division (Topic 4) Chromosome Variation (Topic 5) Linked Genes (Topic 6) Gene Mapping (Topic 6) Constructing gene maps (Topic 6) Map based cloning and QTL mapping (Topic 6) Unit 2 Review (Covers information from Topics 4-6) Part III: Molecular Genetics: Gene Function and Genetic Engineering DNA and DNA analysis (Topic 7) Gene Expression (Topic 8) Gene expression analysis (Topic 8) Gene Cloning (Topic 9) Genetic Engineering (Topic 10) Unit 3 Review (Covers information from Topics 7-10) Internet Lessons at The 22 internet lessons below are supplemental material and are assigned with the topic area listed. Segregation 1 Inheritance of Variation 1 Dihybrid crosses and independent assortment 1 Quantitative traits 2 Evolution 3 X2 test for Goodness of Fit 3 Mitosis, meiosis and the cell cycle 4 Polyploidy (animation activity) 5 Linkage, part 1 6 Linkage, part 2 6 Marker Assisted Selection 6 DNA and DNA Extraction 7 Electrophoresis 7 PCR 7 Gene Expression 1: Reading genes and making proteins 8 Gene Expression 2: Expression of herbicide resistant ALS genes in 8

4 plants Protein Detection 8 The role of Jar-1 in Insect Feeding Response 8 Gene Cloning Part 1: The mechanics of recombinant DNA 9 Gene Cloning Part 2: Making and screening gene libraries 9 Overview of Crop Genetic Engineering 10 Transformation 1: Tissue Culture 10 Transformation 2: Transformation methods 10 Academic Honesty Policy: University policies outlined in the UNL Undergraduate Bulletin regarding instances of academic dishonesty will be followed. Internet Lessons at The Internet lessons assigned are listed above. You may take the elibrary practice quizzes after reading each lesson to assess your understanding of the concepts presented in that lesson. We will assign each lesson during the week we work on this topic. Textbooks: We do not require a textbook for this course since assigned reading is all online. Many genetics textbooks available through on-line retailers would be good references for this course. If you are on campus, you have access to 5-6 texts to look over and determine if they would be a good investment. Two texts students have purchased in the past include: 1) Essential Genetics, a Genomic Perspective, 4 th Ed. by Hartl and Jones. Publisher: Jones and Bartlett. 2) Genetics from Genes to Genomes, 3 rd Ed. by Hartwell, Hood, et al. Publisher: McGraw Hill Overall course learning objective 1. Recognize the pattern of inheritance observed when traits are controlled by autosomal or X-linked genes. Apply the principles of segregation and independent assortment in explaining results of inheritance. 2. Contrast the inheritance and phenotypic variation expected with quantitative versus qualitative traits. 3. Plan genetic experiments that will determine the genetic basis for the inheritance of specific traits. Describe how data collection and analysis would vary when studying traits that are qualitative compared to quantitative traits. 4. Compare the study of genetic variation in populations and families. Predict changes in the genetic variation of populations when forces such as selection or migration are at work.

5 5. Describe the relationship between genes and chromosomes and predict how phenotypic variation will be inherited based on this relationship and chromosome behavior during sexual reproduction. 6. Contrast polyploid and diploid organisms relative to origin, genetic variability and trait inheritance. 7. Evaluate chromosome changes that originate from translocations or nondysjunction. 8. Plan genetic experiments designed to map genes. Evaluate data from these experiments and determine gene maps from this data. 9. Describe DNA analysis techniques that are used to observe genetic variation and propose the use of these techniques in studies designed to map genes, make inheritance predictions, or assign genotypes. 10. Outline the gene expression process and describe how genes store information to control traits. Predict how variation in the gene will result in phenotype variation in the organism. 11. Describe the process of gene cloning and propose a strategy to clone a particular gene. 12. Describe the process of genetic engineering and gene therapy. Propose the application of these technologies in agriculture and medicine.