BIOLOGY

234
Fundamentals of Genetics
Fall 2014
Instructors: Dr. Jennifer Klenz ( jklenz@mail.ubc.ca BIOSCI 1003)
Dr. Don Moerman (moerman@zoology.ubc.ca LSC 2408)
Course Coordinator: Dr. Craig Berezowsky (craigber@mail.ubc.ca BIOSCI 1505 =Genetics Help Office)
Bring all administrative problems regarding exams and tutorials to Dr. Berezowsky. This includes
tutorial registration, missed exams and tutorials, as well as issues related to grading of exams.

The Major Theme:
This course examines fundamental genetic principles: mutation, phenotype, segregation, linkage,
complementation, and gene interaction, as well as many applications of these fundamentals.

Text:
Griffiths, A.J.F., Wessler, S.R., Carroll, S.B. and Doebley, J. 2011. Introduction to Genetic Analysis,
10th Edition. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.
Available at the UBC Bookstore in either looseleaf with ebook access (140$), new hardcover with ebook
access $178 or rental hardcover $99, and/or as an ebook (~$110). (The bookstore will not sell used
softbound looseleaf copies, but other students sell them privately and you may do that as well). The book
store does not have any used hardcover textbooks left.
Copies of texts are available for short-term loan in the Genetics Help Office (Room 1505).
We do not recommend the 9th edition. There are changes in terms of text content as well as the end of chapter
problems (some problems are new whereas others have shifted chapters and numbers). We cannot advise on
what to read or what problems to do in the 9th edition. If you want to compare the 9th edition with a copy of the
new 10th edition you can sit in the genetics help office and do that (BIOSCI 1505).

Connect: Course materials will be provided on-line using UBCs Connect interface www.connect.ubc.ca . You can
use the Connect discussion board to get assistance from your fellow classmates outside of class and tutorial

Reading quizzes: Lists of readings for each week are found on Connect. There are reading quizzes based on the
readings for the upcoming week that are due each Monday before 9am. (For the first week only there is a
reading quiz due by 9am on Friday Jan 9th.) Your grade on each quiz will be an average based on your 2 possible
attempts.

Tutorials: Attendance in tutorials is mandatory and vital to your success in this course. You cannot register in a
tutorial which conflicts with your lecture. Contact Dr. Berezowsky for any issues related to tutorial registration.
Tutorial questions are based on material covered in lecture the previous week. Assigned tutorial problems for
each week will be listed on Connect. Show your solved problems to your TA in tutorial and receive 0.5 marks for
completion. There will also be 0.5 marks for a weekly tutorial quiz question. There are 12 tutorials but only 10
tutorial marks so you may miss a tutorial and still get full marks for this component.

Evaluation*: (sheet of notes allowed for examinations)

Midterm 1




Wed Feb 11th 50 min (15%)

Midterm 2




Mon Mar 16th 50 min (15%)

Final




TBA 2.5 hrs
(55%)

Tutorials (~10%), reading quizzes (~3%), in-class activities, etc. (15%)
* Tentative, and possibly subject to change

Missed quiz or exams: Any missed midterm exam(s) must be reported to Dr. Berezowsky with supporting
documentation and upon approval, the midterm weight will be added to the final exam. Alternatively, a mark of
0% will be entered. There are no makeup midterm exams.

Any missed final exam must be reported to Science Advising (or appropriate Faculty advising office) with
supporting documentation. Standing Deferred status will only be granted if the student is in good academic

standing in the course (see UBC calendar). Deferred exams will be scheduled through the Registrars Office and
are generally held in late July to early August following the completion of the academic year. Deferred exams are
not held within the same examination period from which they are deferred.

There are no provisions to alter the final exam schedule due to travel plans, etc. The last day of exams is Apr
29th so do not schedule a flight earlier than Apr 30th. If you qualify under the three exams within 24 hour
provision you must see Science Advising (or appropriate Faculty advising office).

Please note this course schedule is tentative. Always check Connect for readings, tutorial questions and
possible changes to this schedule.
DATE:

TOPICS

TEXT READINGS (Griffiths 10th

ed.)

TUTORIAL PROBLEMS

Ch 1: 1-11, 17-18, 20, 23-25

Ch 8: section 8.2 288-297
(for reading quiz due Friday 9am)
Ch 7: Fig 7-25 p273
Ch 16: 553-558 and 560-562
Ch 10: 345-347
Ch 4: 138-139 & Fig 4-15 (pg140)
Ch 18: 640
See CONNECT for more detailed
reading guide.
Ch 1: 12-14, Ch 2 :44-46 Ch 6: 211218 Ch 19: 683-685 Article on
phenotypes in armadillos, weblink in
Connect
) See CONNECT for more detailed
reading guide.

Tutorials start in Week 2 and

are based on topics from the
previous week

PHENOTYPE AND MUTATION

Mon Jan 5th
Wed Jan 7

th

Introduction
Concept inventory
DNA, Genomes, Genes

Fri Jan 9th

Gene structure, Mutations, PCR

Mon Jan 12th

Phenotype

Wed Jan 14th

Dominance vs recessiveness, haplosufficiency,microsatellites as

alleles, putting it all together
Gene structure, mutation, allele relationships: putting it all
together

Fri Jan 16th

See CONNECT for

TUTORIAL PROBLEMS

SEGREGATION
Mon Jan 19th
Wed Jan 21st
Fri Jan 23rd
Mon Jan 26th
Wed Jan 28th
Fri Jan 30th

DNA replication, mitosis, meiosis

1 gene, 2 alleles, 3 alleles (genetic analysis)
2 genes, 2 alleles , problem-solving practice
X-linkage, dosage
Pedigrees, Probability
Pedigree analysis continued

See CONNECT for Readings

LINKAGE
Mon Feb 2nd
Wed Feb 4th
Fri Feb 6th
Mon Feb 9th
Wed Feb 11th
Fri Feb 13th
Feb 16th - 22nd
Feb 25th, Feb
27th, Mar 1st

Crossing over, Recombination

Linkage
Finding a gene through mapping
Holiday (Family Day) No class.
Midterm I
Exam-related activity
Spring Break. No classes.
Molecular markers

COMPLEMENTATION
Mar 4th, 6th, 8th

Concept of complementation and exceptions to

complementation; gene rescue

APPLICATIONS OF THE GENETIC PILLARS

Mar 9th, 11th,
13th
Mon Mar 16th
Wed Mar 18th
Fri Mar 20th
Mar 23rd, Mar
25th, 27th,
Mon Mar 30th,
Wed Apr 1st,
Fri Apr 3rd
Mon Apr 6th
Wed Apr 8th
Fri Apr 10th

Gene Interaction includes enhancer/suppressor screening

Midterm II
Activity
Genomes I Structure
Genomes II Structure; Genomes III and IV Evolution of
genomes
Maternal inheritance and organelles
Good Friday Holiday. No class.
Easter Monday Holiday. No class.
Wrap up and review
Review. Last day of classes

No tutorial this week.