UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY - DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

COURSE INFORMATION SHEET

1.

Course:

Biology 311 - Principles of Genetics

Lecture/Time/Session:

L01/L02

Instructors:

Dr. David Hansen

Dr. Isabelle Barrette-Ng

2.

Prerequisites:

Biology 231 and 233

Note:

The Faculty of Science policy on pre- and co-requisite checking is outlined on page 223 of the 2010-2011 Calendar. Students are
responsible to ensure that they meet all pre- and co-requisite requirements, as listed in the Calendar, for each course in which they are
registered. Students who do not meet these requirements will be deleted from the course.

3.

The University policy on grading and related matters is described on pages 40-48 of the 2010-2011 Calendar. In determining the
overall grade in the course the following weights will be used:

Assignments and Clickers

Midterm Exam
Final Exam
Laboratory

MWF

11:00/13:00
BI 240A
BI 430A

Fall 2010

220-7496
220-6240

dhansen@ucalgary.ca
mibarret@ucalgary.ca

5%
25%
37%
33%

There will be a final exam scheduled by the Registrar's office

4.

Missed Components of Term Work. The regulations of the Faculty of Science pertaining to this matter are outlined on page 224 of the
2010-2011 Calendar (also on page 42-43 under "Deferral of Term Work"). It is the student's responsibility to familiarize
himself/herself with these regulations.

5.

Dates and times of class exercises held outside of class hours (evening tests, Saturday Laboratory examinations, weekend
field trips):
Midterm
- Saturday, October 30, 2010
12:00PM-2:00PM
ST 140 and ST 148
Final Lab Exam - Saturday, December 4, 2010
2:00PM-4:00PM
ST 140 and ST 148
REGULARLY SCHEDULED CLASSES HAVE PRECEDENCE OVER ANY OUT-OF-CLASS-TIME ACTIVITY. If you have a
clash with this out of class time activity, please inform your instructor at least one week in advance of the activity so that other
arrangements may be made for you.

Studies in the Biological Sciences involve the use of living and dead organisms. Students taking laboratory- and field-based courses in these
disciplines can expect involvement with and experimentation on such materials. Students perform dissections on dead or preserved organisms
in some courses. In particular courses, students experiment on living organisms, their tissues, cells, or molecules. Sometimes field work
requires students to collect a variety of living materials by many methods including humane trapping. All work on humans and other animals
conforms to the Helsinki Declaration and to the regulations of the Canadian Council on Animal Care. The Department strives for the highest
ethical standards consistent with stewardship of the environment for organisms whose use is not governed by statutory authority. Individuals
contemplating taking courses or majoring in one of the fields of study offered by the Department of Biological Sciences should ensure that they
have fully considered these issues before enrolling. Students are advised to discuss any concern they might have with the Associate
Department Head - Undergraduate Studies.
Academic misconduct (cheating, plagiarism, or any other form) is a very serious offence that will be dealt with rigorously in all cases. A single
offence may lead to disciplinary probation or suspension or expulsion. The Faculty of Science follows a zero tolerance policy regarding
dishonesty. Please read the sections of the University Calendar under "Student Misconduct" (pages 48-51 for 2010-2011) or visit
www.ucalgary.ca/honesty.
In accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP) students should identify themselves on written
assignments (exam papers, term work, lab reports, etc.) by placing their name on the front page and their ID number on each subsequent page.
The Students' Union Academic Commissioner for Science can be contacted at 220-6551, MSC 251.
Departmental approval:
Associate Dean's approval for out
of regular class-time activity:
247165555.doc 05/08/2010 11:06

Date:
Date:

UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
COURSE OUTLINE
BIOLOGY 311
PRINCIPLES OF GENETICS
TERM:

Fall 2010

PREREQUISITE(S):

Biology 231 and 233

SECTIONS L01and L02

A student may not register in a course unless he/she has a grade of at least C- in each prerequisite course.
COURSE COORDINATOR:
LAB COORDINATOR:

Dr. David Hansen

Dr. Isabelle Barrette-Ng

BI 240A
BI 430A

220-7496
220-6240

LECTURERS:

Dr. David Hansen

Dr. Isabelle Barrette-Ng

BI 240A
BI 430A

220-7496
220-6240

LECTURES:

L01
L02

MWF
MWF

LABS:

T
R
W
M

08:30, 12:00, 15:30

08:30, 12:00, 15:30
15:30
15:30

11:00
13:00

dhansen@ucalgary.ca
mibarret@ucalgary.ca
dhansen@ucalgary.ca
mibarret@ucalgary.ca

ST 140
ST 140
SA 230/238/250
SA 230/238/250
SA 230/238/250
SA 230/238/250

All scheduled laboratories will begin the week of September 20, 2010. Students need to read the introduction and Lab #1 prior to attending the
first lab and be comfortable with all terms used.
TEXT: Required:

An Introduction to Genetic Analysis. 9th ed., Griffiths, Miller, Suzuki, Lewontin, Wessler and Gelbart.
Solutions Megamanual for An Introduction to Genetic Analysis, 9th Edition, Fixsen, W.D., Lavett, D.K.,
W.H. Freeman.
Carolina Drosophila Manual, Flagg, R.O., 5th Edition, Caroline Biological Supply Company
Biology 311 Laboratory Manual, Fall 2010 (To be downloaded from Blackboard)

This course will use the Blackboard course delivery tool. It can accessed at http://blackboard.ucalgary.ca
MARK DISTRIBUTION: A.

Composition of Final Grade

Assignments and Clickers
Midterm exam (2 hrs)*
Final exam (3hrs)**
Laboratory***

5%
25%
37%
33%

B. Final Exam
There will be a cumulative final examination emphasizing material covered in the last 1/2 of the course
scheduled by the Registrar's Office between the 13th and 22nd of December inclusive.
EXPECTED STUDY TIME:
At least two hours per one-hour lecture plus the required laboratory
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
*Dates: Midterm
- Saturday, October 30, 2010
12:00-2:00 PM
ST 140 and ST 148
This is an out-of-scheduled-class time exam that has been approved by the appropriate Dean.
**

This will be a comprehensive final exam covering the entire course, but with emphasis on the material covered after the midterm
exam.

***

Various lab components have predetermined weighting to a total of 33% as specified in the Lab Manual.
There will be a Lab Final on December 4, 2010; 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM in ST140 and ST148.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE FALL 2010

Date

Topics

Chapter

September 13

Explanation of course outline, exams schedule, labs, percentage

weights and reading assignments. Example of genetic analysis

September 15

Autosomal inheritance, sex-linked inheritance, cytoplasmic

inheritance, pedigree analysis
Independent assortment of genes

Lecturer
Dr. Hansen

Dr. Hansen

3
3
3
4

Dr. Hansen
Dr. Hansen
Dr. Hansen
Dr. Hansen

4
4
4
5
5
5

Dr. Hansen
Dr. Hansen
Dr. Hansen
Dr. Hansen
Dr. Hansen
Dr. Hansen
Dr. Hansen
Dr. Hansen
Dr. Hansen
Dr. Barrette-Ng

October 22
October 25

What is a gene and how can genetic variability be introduced?

An introduction to the Central Dogma
Genes and replication
PCR and DNA sequencing

6
6
6
7
7
20

Dr. Barrette-Ng
Dr. Barrette-Ng

October 27

Bioinformatics the meaning of DNA sequences

20

Dr. Barrette-Ng

Dr. Barrette-Ng

8
8

Dr. Barrette-Ng
Dr. Barrette-Ng

Dr. Barrette-Ng

Dr. Barrette-Ng

10, 11
10

Dr. Barrette-Ng
Dr. Barrette-Ng

10

Dr. Barrette-Ng

11
20
20
14
15
16
16

Dr. Barrette-Ng
Dr. Barrette-Ng
Dr. Barrette-Ng
Dr. Barrette-Ng
Dr. Barrette-Ng
Dr. Hansen
Dr. Hansen
Dr. Suchowersky

September 17
September 20
September 22
September 24
September 27
September 29
October 1
October 4
October 6
October 8
October 11
October 13
October 15
October 18
October 20

Linkage, recombination, genetic mapping, chi-square, multiple crossovers

Bacterial and viral genetics

No Lecture- Thanksgiving
Gene Interactions: Dominance, epistasis, biosynthetic pathways

th

October 29

Midterm prepMidterm on October 30

November 1

November 10

How are genes expressed?

Part 1: Converting the message of DNA to RNA through
transcription
Transcription in prokaryotes
Transcription in eukaryotes
RNA processing
How are genes expressed?
Part 2: Translating mRNA to protein
Translation in prokaryotes

November 12

No Lecture- Reading Days

November 15
November 17

Genetic variability through control of gene expression

How does a nutritional signal control gene expression?
The lac operon
How does a nutritional signal control gene expression?
The lac operon continued
Genetic variability and the epigenome a new code?
Real-life CSI: Introduction to genetic technologies
Genetic engineering and the manipulation of DNA
The story of jumping genes introduction to transposable elements
Altering the message the genetics of cancer
Large-scale chromosomal changes
Large-scale chromosomal changes
Medical Genetics

November 3
November 5
November 8

November 19
November 22
November 24
November 26
November 29
December 1
December 3
December 6
December 8

December 10

Ethical issues in genetics- cloning, genetic testing, gene therapy,

prenatal diagnosis and pre-implantation genetic testing

December 13-22

Final exam scheduled by Registrar. This will be a comprehensive

Final Exam covering all material in the course, but with emphasis on
topics covered since mid-term

Dr. Hansen