BIOL-FRSC-2050H-W: Introduction to Genetics 2018SU - Online · 2019-03-20 · Pedigree analysis ... participating in the Class Study Wiki project. ... (S62) courses is July 12, 2018

BIOL-FRSC-2050H-W: Introduction to Genetics

2018SU - Online

Instructor:

Instructor: Susan P. Yates

Email Address: [email protected]

Phone Number: use Blackboard or email

Office: use Blackboard or email

Office Hours: use Blackboard or email

Meeting Times:

This course offering is only available online.

Please note that this is an intensive course and covers a full semester course in just 6 weeks.

Daily work will be required to satisfactorily complete this course.

It is highly recommended that students log into the course Blackboard site daily to ensure that

they are completing the required readings, coursework and assessments throughout the semester.

Important notifications will be posted on Blackboard and sent to the class by email. If an

extended period of time has passed since a student has logged into the course Blackboard site,

they may be contacted by the instructor to ensure that they do not fall too far behind in the course

material.

Co-instructors and Teaching Assistants:

Teaching Assistant:

Samantha Morin

email: [email protected]

Department:

Academic Administrative Assistant: Sandra Sisson

Email Address: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Phone Number: 7424

Office: Life and Health Sciences Building, Room D101

Description:

Calendar Description:

Develops a basic understanding of genetics. Mendelian inheritance, chromosome structure,

genetic recombination, mutation, the structure of DNA, the nature of genes, and current topics in

genetics are investigated using examples from plants, animals, insects, bacteria, fungi, and

viruses. Prerequisite: 60% or higher in BIOL 1030H or BIOM 1000H, and 60% or higher in one

of BIOL 1020H or 1050H. Cross-listed with FRSC-2050H.

Course Description:

The purpose of this course is to present the student with a broad overview of genetics, from

classical genetics to molecular genetics to genetic applications. Students will be introduced to

historical developments in the field of genetics, as well as being exposed to many contemporary

issues related to genetics. Students will develop a broad set of problem-solving skills that can

be used to resolve genetic questions. Many of the assignments and tests/examinations will have a

significant emphasis on a student's ability to apply their problem-solving skills.

Learning Outcomes:

This course has been developed to address several learning outcomes.

By the end of the course a successful student should:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of chromosomes and cellular reproduction.

2. Demonstrate an understanding of classical genetics, including:

Mendelian and non-Mendelian genetics

Pedigree analysis

Sex linkage

3. Demonstrate an understanding of molecular genetics, including:

DNA structure

DNA replication and expression

DNA regulation and mutation

4. Demonstrate an understanding of the applications of genetics, including:

Population genetics

Evolutionary genetics

Molecular genetic analysis and biotechnology

5. Understand how the use of experimental approaches can reveal the genetic basis of real-world

scenarios.

6. Understand the implications that the knowledge of genetics has in many diverse fields.

Texts:

Genetics Essentials: Concepts and Connections (3rd ed.) by B. A. Pierce (2016), W. H. Freeman

and Company, ISBN-13: 978-1-319-04554-8.

(Available at the Trent University Bookstore – Peterborough Campus).

Readings:

Please see the "Schedule" section of this course syllabus for detailed information about the

required readings from the textbook.

Assessments, Assignments and Tests:

Learning Activities:

Each course module contains a learning activity, which is located at the end of each Learning

Module on Blackboard. These learning activities serve two main purposes:

1) They will offer an incentive for students to stay on target with the course schedule of topics

and;

2) The types of questions that students will see in these learning activities will be similar to what

may be presented on an examination and therefore serve as practice questions.

Each learning activity will consist of up to 5 multiple choice questions and students will have

unlimited attempts with no time limit, and the highest grade will be recorded, up until the final

due date listed in the "Schedule" section of this course syllabus. After the final due date, any

student who has not made any attempts at a particular learning activity will receive a grade of

zero.

Please note that detailed feedback is provided to students for each question when the correct

answer is selected. This feedback will explain, often in detail, why that answer was correct but

also why the other choices were not correct in this instance. In addition, this feedback may

provide additional hints and suggestions which will further direct a student's study effort. When

the incorrect answer is selected, the student will be directed to specific sections of either the

textbook and/or Blackboard learning module and after consulting these resources, students are

encouraged to select a different answer on their next attempt.

Assignments:

Students may work on an assignment at their own pace, however, students must submit the

assignment before or at the deadline or they will receive a grade of zero.

Each of the six assignments will ask several multi-part questions applying knowledge learned

from the associated module(s). These assignments are problem-based exercises and students will

input their answers directly in the Blackboard platform.

Midterm Exam:

The midterm exam will be completed online and will be available on Blackboard for

approximately 36 hours. A student may access their textbook and/or notes during the midterm

exam, however, they are expected to complete this assessment without the aid of other people. At

the beginning of the midterm exam, each student will be asked to agree to complete the midterm

exam in accordance with Trent's Academic Integrity Policy and without the assistance of others

and only use the permitted resources.

Some questions will be problem-based, therefore, students must be prepared with a paper,

pencil/pen, and calculator before they begin the midterm exam to aid with those questions.

There is a time limit for the midterm exam which starts immediately when the student clicks

“begin”. The time limit for the midterm exam will be 75 minutes and will only consist of

multiple choice questions. The actual number of questions on the midterm will be announced on

Blackboard in advance of the date of the midterm exam.

Final Examination:

This online course requires completion of a face-to-face (proctored) final examination at the

Peterborough campus. Alternatively, students may instead write online using Trent’s remote

proctoring service. Online proctoring allows remote proctors to supervise an exam via webcam at

any quiet location with a reliable internet connection. All students (regardless of their location

preference) are required to submit the “Exam Location Declaration Form" available through the

myTrent student portal. Students will receive an email to their Trent email account and an

announcement will be posted in the course when this form becomes available. It is recommended

that students make arrangements as early as possible in the semester since changes cannot be

guaranteed after the deadline.

Midterm and final examination scheduling policies and procedures are in the

undergraduate Academic Calendar.

https://www.trentu.ca/registrar/academic-calendar

It is the student's responsibility to ensure that he/she is available to sit for exams during the entire

exam period for the term corresponding to his/her courses.

Students who are registered with Student Accessibility Services and have exam accommodations

at the Centre for Academic Testing (CAT) must book their exams online using the SAS Portal

in myTrent. During the summer term, students are required to book their exams at least 7 days

prior to the start of the formal exam period. This is applicable for students writing at either

the Peterborough or Durham campus. For students who choose to write with the remote

proctoring service, they must inform their instructors of their accommodations at least 7 days in

advance of the exam period, so that they may be appropriately accommodated by the remote

proctoring service.

This final examination is CLOSED book, meaning that students may NOT access their textbook

and/or notes. Students are expected to bring a pencil to the final examination, as scantrons sheets

will be used.

The final examination will consist entirely of multiple choice questions and covers all modules

(i.e. cumulative). Although the final examination is cumulative, emphasis will be placed on

course material not tested on the midterm examination. The actual number of questions on the

final examination will be announced on Blackboard closer to the end of the semester.

Also, a minimum mark of 35% is required on the final examination in order to pass this course.

If this minimum grade on the final examination is not achieved, a course grade of 45% is the

maximum that can be assigned.

Extra Credit:

A student can earn extra credit, up to a maximum of 1% added to their final grade, by

participating in the Class Study Wiki project. Here students can collaboratively generate

review/study notes to help the class prepare for both the midterm and final examinations.

In order to be eligible for this extra credit, a student must contribute at least FIVE key

topics/concepts that they feel are important to know and understand for this course.

Participation in this activity is completely optional, however, for students wishing to earn extra

credit have up until Thursday, July 26, 2018, at 9:00 AM to include their submissions. Further

instructions and details will be provided on Blackboard.

Grading:

Course Evaluation:

Learning Activities: 15% (i.e. 1% for each of the 15 modules)

Assignment 1 (Chromosomes and Cellular Reproduction): 6%

Assignment 2 (Mendelian Genetics): 6%

Assignment 3 (Pedigree Analysis): 6%

Assignment 4 (Population Genetics): 6%

Assignment 5 (DNA Sequence Analysis): 6%

https://www.trentu.ca/wellness/sas

https://www.trentu.ca/wellness/cat

http://www.trentu.ca/mytrent

Assignment 6 (Molecular Genetic Analysis): 5%

Midterm Exam (Modules 1 - 6): 15%

In-person Final Examination (All modules - cumulative*): 35%

*Please note: The final examination will be cumulative and a minimum mark of 35% is required

on the final examination in order to pass this course. If this minimum grade on the final

examination is not achieved, a course grade of 45% is the maximum that can be assigned.

Extra Credit: Up to a maximum of 1% added to their final grade (details under the section

"Assessments, Assignments and Tests" and on Blackboard)

Grade Total by Withdrawal Date:

The final date for withdrawal from Summer (S62) courses is July 12, 2018 — after this date,

students remain registered in this course and will receive a final grade.

At least 35% of a student's grade in this course will be made available by the final date for

withdrawal.

Schedule:

Please note that students registered in this course can download (or print) the following

schedules as a calendar from the Blackboard course site.

Schedule of Topics and Readings:

The schedule of topics is listed below. While it is recommended that a student works at a pace

they are comfortable, the module(s) for each range of dates are the required topics for that

period. A student should, by the end of the range of dates, ensure they have covered the material

in these module(s) or they may fall behind. Trying to learn multiple modules at one time prior to

an assignment or exam will create an unnecessarily difficult learning challenge.

For example, Modules 1 and 2 are the required topics during the period of Monday, June 18,

2018, to Wednesday, June 20, 2018, it is recommended that students complete these modules on

or before Wednesday, June 20, 2018, to stay on target with the course schedule of topics.

All course modules will be available to students prior to the first day of classes to allow students

the opportunity to work ahead if they should choose. Announcements will be sent out regularly

to remind students of the following schedule along with any impending deadlines. Students can

also consult the printable course calendar available on Blackboard for complete details on

scheduling or consult the weekly checklists posted on Blackboard.

June 18 - 20, 2018

Module 1: Introduction to Genetics [Readings: Ch.1 (all sections)]

Module 2: Chromosome and Cellular Reproduction [Readings: Ch. 2 (all sections)]

June 20 - 22, 2018

Module 3: Chromosomal Variation [Readings: Ch. 6 (all sections)]

June 25 - 27, 2018

Module 4: Principles of Heredity I [Readings: Ch. 3 (sections 3.1-3.4)]

June 27 - 29, 2018

Module 5: Principles of Heredity II [Readings: Ch. 3 (section 3.5); Ch. 4 (sections 4.1-4.2)]

July 2 - 4, 2018

Module 6: Principles of Heredity III [Readings: Ch. 4 (sections 4.3-4.6)]

July 4 - 6, 2018

Module 7: Population Genetics [Readings: Ch. 18 (sections 18.1-18.3)]

July 9 - 11, 2018

Module 8: DNA: The Chemical Nature of the Gene [Readings: Ch. 8 (all sections)]

July 11 - 13, 2018

Module 9: DNA Replication and Recombination [Readings: Ch. 9 (all sections)]

Module 10: From DNA to Proteins: Transcription [Readings: Ch. 10 (all sections)]

July 16 - 18, 2018

Module 11: From DNA to Proteins: Translation [Readings: Ch. 11 (all sections)]

Module 12: Gene Mutation, Transposable Elements & DNA repair [Readings: Ch. 13 (all

sections)]

July 18 - 20, 2018

Module 13: Molecular Genetic Analysis and Biotechnology [Readings: Ch. 14 (all sections); Ch.

15 (section 15.1)]

July 23 - 25, 2018

Module 14: Control of Gene Expression [Readings: Ch. 12 (all sections)]

Module 15: Evolutionary Genetics [Readings: Ch. 18 (sections 18.4-18.7)]

July 25 - 26, 2018

Final Exam/Course Review

Learning Activities Schedule:

The following outlines details for each Learning Activity assessment. All learning activities will

be available to students prior to the first day of classes to allow students the opportunity to work

ahead if they should choose. Each learning activity has an evaluation weighting of 1%.

A recommended date of completion is given for each learning activity. In order to stay on target

with the course material and not fall behind, these dates are included to advise students the

approximate date they should complete these tasks.

A final due date is given for each learning activity. Students must complete these assessments

before or on the final due date listed for each assessment. If not completed, a student will receive

a grade of zero for that assessment.

Learning Activity: Module 1

Recommended date of completion: Friday, June 22, 2018

Final Due Date: Monday, July 9, 2018, at 12 noon (this assessment will no longer be

available once the midterm is released)






Recommended date of completion: Tuesday, June 26, 2018








Recommended date of completion: Tuesday, July 3, 2018




Recommended date of completion: Friday, July 6, 2018




Recommended date of completion: Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Final Due Date: This assessment will no longer be available once the final exam is in

session (exact date to TBA)


























Recommended date of completion: Thursday, July 26, 2018




Recommended date of completion: Thursday, July 26, 2018



Assignments, Midterm and Final Examination Schedule: Availability and Due

Dates:

The following outlines when each Assignment and Examination is available on Blackboard, the

associated due date, and evaluation weighting.

The “Date released” indicates when an assessment will become available on Blackboard and the

“Date Due” indicates when it must be completed.

For example, Assignment 1 will be available on Blackboard on or before Friday, June 15, 2018,

and must be completed NO LATER than Friday, June 22, 2018, at 11:59 PM (Eastern Time). If

not completed by Friday, June 22, 2018, at 11:59 PM (Eastern Time), the student will receive a

grade of zero for that assessment.

Assignment 1 (Chromosomes and Cellular Reproduction)

Weight: 6%

Date released on Blackboard: Friday, June 15, 2018

Due Date on Blackboard: Friday, June 22, 2018, at 11:59 PM

Assignment 2 (Mendelian Genetics)

Weight: 6%


Due Date on Blackboard: Friday, June 29, 2018, at 11:59 PM

Assignment 3 (Pedigree Analysis)

Weight: 6%


Due Date on Blackboard: Thursday, July 5, 2018, at 9:00 AM

Midterm Exam

Weight: 15%

Date/Time released on Blackboard: Monday, July 9, 2018, at 12 noon

Due Date on Blackboard: Tuesday, July 10, 2018, at 11:59 PM

Assignment 4 (Population Genetics)

Weight: 6%

Date released on Blackboard: Sunday, June 24, 2018

Due Date on Blackboard: Friday, July 13, 2018, at 11:59 PM

Assignment 5 (DNA Sequence Analysis)

Weight: 6%

Date released on Blackboard: Sunday, July 1, 2018

Due Date on Blackboard: Friday, July 20, 2018, at 11:59 PM

Assignment 6 (Molecular Genetic Analysis)

Weight: 5%

Date released on Blackboard: Sunday, July 8, 2018

Due Date on Blackboard: Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at 11:59 PM

Final Examination

Weight: 35%

In-person examination - Date set by the registrar (3-hour examination)

Course Guidelines:

General Questions:

General questions should be posted in the appropriate Blackboard discussion board. Either the

instructor or the teaching assistant will monitor the discussion board each weekday and will

generally post a reply on the discussion board by the following day.

There are separate discussion boards for each module, as well ones designated for technical

issues, and exam review. Students are asked to use the appropriate discussion board for their

inquiry and review the discussion board prior to posting to ensure that their question has not

already been posted and answered.

Students should also consult the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section on Blackboard for

commonly asked questions.

Study Assistance:

Students should always use the discussion boards on Blackboard as their primary source for

assistance. On the discussion boards, students are encouraged to participate in the problem-

solving process with their peers.

If there is sufficient interest from the class, the instructor and/or TA will offer online tutorials in

the form of a web conference (similar to a virtual classroom with chat features). Trent University

currently uses the web conference system called Zoom. Once an online tutorial is scheduled for

these optional tutorial sessions, a link will be posted on Blackboard. Students can join the

tutorials from any web browser. The dates and times for these sessions will be announced during

the semester. Students may suggest preferred days/times for these sessions.

For those students who work better in smaller groups with their peers, a sign-up sheet will be

posted on Blackboard for those students interested in joining a Student Study Group. These

Student Study Groups will meet virtually on Blackboard (more details will be available on

Blackboard). Participation in a Student Study Group is optional.

Contacting the Instructor:

For concerns of a personal nature, please contact the instructor via email. For emails received

between Monday-Thursday, every effort will be made to respond within 24 hours. For those

inquiries received on Fridays or during the weekend, a response will be sent by the following

Monday. Remember that questions related to assignments, exams, or other course content

material should be posted on the discussion board to limit the number of duplicated questions.

When a student directly contacts the instructor via email, they are asked to please use their Trent

email account and include the course number in the subject line to ensure that the message is not

spam-filtered accidentally.

If after consulting the instructor by email, it is determined that a "face-to-face" meeting would be

more appropriate to discuss a personal situation, a web conference may be arranged between the

instructor and the student at a mutually agreed upon time.

Course Structure:

This online course is structured as a series of learning modules that are spread over the 6 weeks

of the course. The concepts are divided into three general themes: classical genetics, molecular

genetics, and genetic applications. These themes are further divided into modules, which roughly

correspond to the different chapters of the textbook.

Students are required to access all course materials, learning activities, assignments, midterm,

and announcements on the course Blackboard site. Just as in “face-to-face” lectures, the material

presented online in the learning modules will emphasize important concepts from the

textbook, as well as supplement the material presented in the textbook by providing additional

learning resources, practice questions, and information about relevant current issues.

Module Structure:

The following is the organization and structure of each learning module as presented on

Blackboard:

1. Information/Welcome. Reminds students of important deadlines and expectations along

with hints and tips to successfully complete the module.

2. Introduction. A brief introduction to the topics that will be presented.

3. Learning Outcomes. These learning outcomes will indicate the important aspects of the

chapter the students should understand upon completion of the module.

4. Required Readings. A list of readings from the textbook is listed plus any supplemental

readings.

5. Key Terms and Concepts. Students must be able to define and give the significance of

these key terms/concepts in a test/exam situation.

6. e-Lecture. This is analogous to a lecture presentation of your textbook.

7. Study Guide. This section of the learning module is meant to complement not replace

the required readings from the textbook. Here important topics will be highlighted with

reference to the textbook while putting the material into context to the larger implications

and/or importance of the areas explored in that module. The study guide section may

include additional learning resources and assist with clarification of some (but not all) of

the material through the use of examples, problem-solving strategies, videos and

interactive activities.

8. Practice Questions. Several review questions which reinforce the learning outcomes for

the chapter. These questions will include concept check, comprehension and application

questions from the textbook plus any additional problems. The answers to these questions

are provided, however, students are strongly encouraged to initially complete these

questions without the aid of the answer key. Assessments will emphasize ideas and

strategies highlighted by these practice questions.

9. Learning Activity Assessment. Each module concludes with a learning activity

assessment. For further information, please consult the "Assessments, Assignments and

Tests" section of this course syllabus.

Course Policies:

Penalties:

Given the nature of the online course, if an assessment, assignment or midterm exam is not

submitted by the due date, a student will no longer be able to access the material on Blackboard

and a grade of zero will result. NOTE: Due dates are based on Eastern Standard Time (EST)

or Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), appropriate to the time of year. For example, the due date

for Assignment 1 is Friday, June 22, 2018, at 11:59 PM, therefore the assignment will be

accepted until 11:59 PM EST. This means that if for example, a student is in the Pacific Time

Zone, the assignment will be available only until 8:59 PM PST on Friday, June 22, 2018.

Special Circumstances:

If there are cases of exceptional circumstances surrounding a student’s inability to complete

allocated coursework, these should be brought to the attention of the instructor as soon as

possible. Extensions arranged after an assignment is due will not be granted. Each situation with

regard to extensions or potential penalties will be judged on a case-by-case basis. Extensions can

be given in rare cases due to valid reasons such as illness.

Technology:

1. This is an online course. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they have the

appropriate technology to access the course.

2. This course may use Flash video to provide instruction. It is the student's responsibility to

ensure they are able to view Flash video on whatever device they use to access the

course.

3. Communication in this course will take place online. Students are responsible for

checking their Trent email account and Blackboard Learning Site regularly as this is how

announcements and other important course information will be distributed.

4. It is the student's responsibility to ensure all assessments, assignments, and tests have

been submitted properly, adhering to the instructions given on Blackboard.

Discussion Best Practices:

1. Discussion Board: The discussion list is an ongoing "thread" of discussions with the

members of the class. The discussion board works best when students respond to one

another's comments and ideas. Please check the discussion board regularly for new

postings and make thoughtful responses. Students may also subscribe to a particular

discussion forum.

2. The Timing of Posts: Students are encouraged to post early to allow members of the

class sufficient time to respond to question(s).

3. Audience: Students must remember that all posts on the discussion board are visible to

the entire class. Students are encouraged to express their own opinions while being

sensitive to their classmates and not offending anyone deliberately.

4. Flaming: Intellectual disagreements are expected, but students must give their classmates

the same respect they would in a "face-to-face" classroom. Students are asked to avoid

"flaming" or publicly attacking someone for their point of view.

5. Language: Please use appropriate language and be more formal when posting to the

discussion board. Avoid the use of slang or web abbreviations (e.g., LOL).

Policy on Midterms, Examinations, and Assignments:

Midterm and Final Examinations:

Students shouldnot make any commitments (e.g., vacation, job-related activities, or other travel

plans) during the final examination period. Students are required to be available for all

examinations (midterm and final) during the periods for which they are scheduled (as published

in the course syllabus or university timetable).

Deferral of Midterm or Final Examinations and Extensions for Assignments:

Extension of due dates for completion of assignments or writing of tests or final examinations

may be granted to students on the basis of illness, accident or other extreme and unanticipated

legitimate circumstances beyond the student’s control. Please contact the instructor as soon as

possible.

Independent work:

Unless a student is specifically directed to work collaboratively with their classmates, all work

submitted for assessment must be the student's own.

University Policies:

Academic Integrity

Academic dishonesty, which includes plagiarism and cheating, is an extremely serious academic

offence and carries penalties varying from failure on an assignment to expulsion from the

University. Definitions, penalties, and procedures for dealing with plagiarism and cheating are

set out in Trent University’s Academic Integrity Policy. You have a responsibility to educate

yourself – unfamiliarity with the policy is not an excuse. You are strongly encouraged to visit

Trent’s Academic Integrity website to learn more: academic integrity.

http://www.trentu.ca/academicintegrity

Access to Instruction

It is Trent University's intent to create an inclusive learning environment. If a student has a

disability and documentation from a regulated health care practitioner and feels that they may

need accommodations to succeed in a course, the student should contact the Student

Accessibility Services Office (SAS) at the respective campus as soon as possible.

Documents

BIOL-FRSC-2050H-W: Introduction to Genetics 2018SU - Online · 2019-03-20 · Pedigree analysis ... participating in the Class Study Wiki project. ... (S62) courses is July 12, 2018