Genetics
Undergraduate · Biology
Syllabus focus
Topics typically covered
Standard syllabus
Transmission genetics
- Mendelian ratios and probability
- Extensions: dominance, epistasis, lethality, linkage
- Pedigree analysis and risk calculation
- Sex linkage and dosage compensation (intro)
- Chromosomal aberrations and karyotypes
- Tetrad analysis / mapping in model systems (course-dependent)
Molecular genetics
- Gene definition in modern terms
- Mutation classes and suppressor logic
- Recombination at molecular scale
- Genomics: reading genome browsers (intro)
- Forward vs reverse genetics strategies
- Model organisms and genetic screens
Population and quantitative genetics
- Allele frequencies and Hardy–Weinberg
- Selection, drift, migration, mutation models
- Inbreeding and relatedness coefficients (intro)
- QTL and complex trait ideas (survey)
- Human genetic variation and GWAS awareness
- Ethical issues in genetic testing
STEM / applied
Problem practice
- Multi-step genetics word problems
- Chi-square tests for segregation ratios
- Map distance and interference calculations
- Interpreting complementation tests
- Designing crosses to test hypotheses
- Explaining answers with clear genetic reasoning
Applications
- Medical genetics case discussions
- Agricultural breeding examples
- Forensic DNA profiling concepts
- Counseling communication (non-clinical)
- Critical reading of genetics news claims
- Capstone: analyze a pedigree + molecular hypothesis
Notes
Quantitative load is high; tutoring emphasizes setup of probability and mapping problems.