|
Syllabus
|
| Focus |
| This
class will concern eukaryotic molecular genetics, that is the
molecular understanding of information transfer in eukaryotes.
The major topics covered during the course will include: |
| •
|
paradigms
of translational control in model eukaryotes |
| •
|
mechanisms
of transcription and transcriptional control |
| •
|
model
intracellular signalling systems |
| •
|
and
genetic control of cell fate and development |
|
| We
will read and discuss papers from the primary research literature
to explore these topics. There is no textbook intended for use
in the course. You may want to refer to any general reference
you may own that was required in a previous course, such as
"Genes
VII" (Lewin, Oxford University Press); this may be
used as background material for the lectures if necessary. |
As an alternative to the textbook,
the author has developed a commercial website, http://www.ergito.com/.
The web site includes much of the content of Genes VIII.
I make no claims about the value of this website, but it
could be a useful source of background information. Access
to the website requires a $39.00 annual fee; the book retails
for over $120.00. |
| Scope |
| The
course is explicitly concerned with eukaryotic systems. We will
largely focus on a few eukaryotic model organisms, including: |
|
|
|
The
reason for using these organisms is that in each case their
genetics and molecular biology is well-developed, allowing
us to explore eukaryotic molecular genetics in a way not possible,
for example, with higher animal systems. Because it is the
most general eukaryotic model for molecular genetics, the
majority of papers will concern yeast. |
| Reading
materials |
| I
will be posting reading lists on this web site. It will be necessary
to have read the papers before class. All of the papers to be
read will be available in PDF format on this web site. I will
give the class a password that will allow them to open the PDF
files (this is because of copyright restrictions). You will
need Adobe
Acrobat Reader to be able to view and print the files. |
| Writing |
| Writing
will consitute a major focus of the course. The writing assignments
will come in a variety of forms: |
| •
|
Project 1: Students
will keep a journal of responses to the readings. I have
provided a description of a format
for your responses. |
| •
|
Project 2 & 3: There
will be two written
projects assigned during the semester. The first will
be a group effort involving construction of a domain
within the class Wiki site. The second will be an individual
project completed as an individual web site that will
be placed within the class web site. |
| • |
For
those students enrolled in BIOL614 for graduate credit,
the projects will be slightly more complex,
requiring a greater depth of analysis. |
|
| Requirements
and Prerequisites |
Requirements:
Grades for the class will be assigned based on assessment
of the written assignments, exams and class participation.
Each assignment will be given a grade on a 100 point scale.
The grades will be awarded on the basis of a normal scale
where 90-100 = A, 80-89 = B, 70-79 = C, 60-69 = D and
below 60 = F. The final letter grades will be awarded
based on this scale.
|
Calculation
of the final course grade will be based on five assignments
(the journal, two writing assignment projects and two examinations)
and class participation. The weighting of these assignments
will be:
|
Journal project (10%), 2
writing projects (each 20%), 2 examinations (each 20%), class
participation (10%). |
| Prerequisites:
BIOL 302 (Molecular
and General Genetics) and BIOL 303 (Cell
Biology) or equivalent. Note that in accord with department
policy, students who have not completed these requirements will
receive no grade for the course. If you are at all
confused on this issue see me. |
