Tu & Th Meetings (10:30)
Room 246H NRC

1. To understand, at the molecular level, the organization of genetic material and its functioning in the phenotypic expression of genetic characters.

2. To understand the observational bases for interpretations and theories in molecular genetics.

3. To become competent in the interpretation of research observations in molecular genetics.

4. To develop facility in the design of research approaches to molecular genetic questions.

Suggested Texts:

• There is no required textbook
• Lizabeth A. Allison (2007) Fundamental Molecular Biology
• Benjamin Lewin (2011), Genes X, Jones & Bartlett
• T.A. Brown (2010) Gene Cloning & DNA Analysis, 6th Ed., Wiley Balckwell
• Julia Lodge, Pete Lund and Steve Minchin Gene Cloning, Principles and Applications (2007) Taylor & Francis
• Molecular Genetics Webtext by the instructor (see below)

Prerequisites: Bioc 3653 or Bisc 3014, or equivalent

Meeting: Tu & Th 10:30-11:20

NRC 246H

Mode of teaching

Combination lecture-discussion.

There will be no regular class on 20 September due to the BMB Graduate Student Association sponsored symposium. Instead students are asked to make presentations or attend presentations by other students at the symposium sponsored by the association. See below for details.

Examinations and Grading (2010 version):

An assignment at the beginning of the course has as its major purpose letting the instructors know what kind of gaps in knowledge need to be filled in the course. The on-line quiz, also is aimed at refreshing memories on terms that you may have understood at one time, but have now forgotten. For details see "Assignments" at the base of the first lecture outline.

There will be three examinations: two examinations during the semester and a final examination that is comprehensive qith emphasis on the later sessions. Remember, course emphasis has changed several times over the years. The kinds of questions asked this year may differ from those of previous years. Nevertheless, the formats are similar, making old exams (available from the Internet as ".pdf" files, for reading by Adobe Acrobat; see Course Homepage, below) potentially useful. Unfortunately 2010 examinations are not available. All three examinations contain questions that examine understanding of the experimental basis for selected interpretations in molecular genetics; that ask for interpretations of observations presented; and that ask the student to identify ways of attacking specific problems. The final examination will include an on-line quiz, similar in format to the Lingo quiz, and worth 5% of the total grade. The in-class final examination will be worth 32% of the total grade.

 Both oral and written communication are important in science and practice of both is important for graduate students. However, graduate students are usually also quite busy. Thus, for this year, communication skills may be used for multiple purposes. Those that have already performed research related to molecular genetics (either at graduate or undergraduate levels) are asked to participate in the Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Graduate Student Symposium on 20 and 21 September by making either an oral or a poster presentation. Beginners at making presentations are strongly urged to discuss their presentations with Ulrich in considerable advance of the presentation. A written description of the research, in the style of a research manuscript, is to be submitted for the written communication requirement. These may be submitted at any time. Feedback with the possibility of resubmission will be provided if submission occurs before 27 November.

Alternatively, the written communication requirement may be satisfied by a short (less than 20 double-spaced pages) proposal for research funding (project description only--no bios or budgets, etc.). Those students without a molecular genetic research project in mind are asked to attend multiple presentations at the above mentioned symposium and choose one of them as the basis for a research proposal description. Proposals should include sections reviewing the literature (background and significance), a main question to arise from the review, and an experimental strategy to address the question. As above, it be submitted at any time and feedback with the possibility of resubmission will be provided if submission occurs before 27 November. During the last week of the semester, time will be set aside for a brief oral presentation of the written work.

Grade Standards

Grades are not assigned on a curve. Rather, minimum percentages of total points will be required for assignment of each letter grade. These percentages are:

The required percentages may be lowered should the difficulty of the examinations or the stringency of their grading be higher than anticipated. The required percentages will not be raised. Over the past 20 years, 53% (range 36-100%) of the students completing the course received "A" grades. "B" grades were given to 40% (range 0 -64%) and 7% (range 0-18%) received lower grades. The same percentages occurred over the past 10 years.

Course Homepage

The homepage for Gene 5102 is located at the d2l site and mirrored at:

http://bioinfosu.okstate.edu/UM/Gene_5102/home.html

At this location you will find links to old examinations in pdf format. You will also find a link to a list of topic summaries, mirrored from d2l.

Topic summary pages will be available on the website and through D2L. They can be reached from the outline of topics. Each lecture outline contains links to relevant pages in the webetext. The outlines may contain references to published works. These are either seminal papers in the field or recent review articles. Some will be indicated as required reading.

Webtext

A series of webpages is available. It is being improved and updated as time allows. The preface for the webtext version of this course contains instructions on navigation and information on the organization of the site. The overview page of the webtext, the starting point for exploration, is the place from which you should be able to access all material available.

Should you notice any problems in the links, in spelling, grammar, clarity, facts, etc., please jot down the page number (found near the bottom of each page), and the nature of the problem. Give or send the information to Ulrich so that he can correct the page.

Academic Integrity

Oklahoma State University is committed to the maintenance of the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct of its members. This level of ethical behavior and integrity will be maintained in this course. Participating in a behavior that violates academic integrity (e.g., unauthorized collaboration on homework or assignments, plagiarism, multiple submissions of the same assignment, cheating on examinations, fabricating information, helping another person cheat, having unauthorized advance access to examinations, altering or destroying the work of others, and fraudulently altering academic records) will result in your being sanctioned.  Violations may subject you to disciplinary action including the following: receiving a failing grade on an assignment, examination or course, receiving a notation of a violation of academic integrity on your transcript, and being suspended from the University.  You have the right to appeal the charge.  Contact the Office of Academic Affairs, 101 Whitehurst, 405-744-5627, <http://academicintegrity.okstate.edu/>.

University Policies

For other university academic policies, including drop and add dates, follow this link.