Course Syllabus for Biology 325 Genetics, Fall 2010 Lectures TTh 9:30-11am, Painter 3.

02

Instructor Dr. Beverly Finklea (FINK lee) Office: Painter 1.06A

bfinklea@mail.utexas.edu (preferred method) Phone: 471-7923
http://courses.utexas.edu Hours: T 3:30-5, Th 2-3:30 and by appt.

TAs Sandra Sipe Office: BIO 405A

sandrapelc@gmail.com Hours: W 3-5pm & F 10-11am

Mariska Brady Office: BIO 224

mariska@mail.utexas.edu Hours: M 12-1:30pm & Th 11am-12:30pm

Discussions Strongly recommended; attend any or all. Attend office hours and discussion for the same TA.
49050 F 11 PAR 208 Sandra 49055 W 12 JES A217A Sandra
49060 F 12 PAR 101 Mariska 49065 W 2 JES A207A Sandra

Textbook Brooker’s Genetics: Analysis & Principles, 3nd edition. Suggested readings are listed on the course outline so
that the relevant material in the text can be reviewed before lecture or referenced after lecture. No exam
questions are written from these suggested readings, but some are written from the special assigned reading.
Copies are on reserve in the Life Science Library.

Overview Prerequisites are at least a C- in BIO 311C and BIO 311D. Students will learn the structure, function, and
effects of DNA and the techniques used to manipulate and analyze it. Students will strive for an integrated
mastery of presented details and concepts and demonstrate it in explanation, application, analysis, and problem
solving.

Grading Exams. Sixty-five percent of your final grade is based equally on two of the three midterm exams. Each
student’s lowest one-hour exam score will be dropped, but the grade on the comprehensive final exam grade
counts 30% of the course grade and will not be dropped. There are no make-up exams. In the event that
unavoidable and properly documented situations cause a student to miss two exams, the final exam grade is
substituted for the second missed exam grade. Students with academic conflicts, such as a lecture or another
exam at our exam time, must e-mail Dr. Finklea at least one week before each exam conflict so that she can
make arrangements for them to take a different exam at 3pm on the exam day. Exams consist of questions that
address topics from the lectures and assigned problems mainly, plus those from special assigned readings.
Midterm exams concentrate on the material covered since the last exam; because biological topics build on
each other, however, every exam is to some degree comprehensive. IDs are checked immediately prior to or
following exams. Exams written in pencil may not be submitted for re-grading and are subject to point
deductions. Course grades will be unadorned letter grades only.
Problem sets. The remaining 5% is based on problem sets, which are graded for completion. Assigned
problems from given chapters are due at 6pm on the day on which you are tested on those chapters. Follow the
general guidelines written at the top of the first assignment. Attendance is essential but not recorded.

Hints Lecture notes. Strive all semester to increase the quality and quantity of the notes you take in class. Too much
time studying the text is a common problem. Instead, take notes you can rely upon.
Studying. Learn and use active study techniques to learn the material as we go.
Problem sets. Strongly recommended. Answer what you can weekly or semi-weekly before discussion. You
will get out of these what you put into them if you don’t procrastinate. Attend discussion faithfully to be sure
that your answers are thorough and correct.
More information. Read the FAQs under “Course Information” on Blackboard for detailed course-specific
suggestions on note-taking, studying, and other topics.

Dishonesty The University defines academic dishonesty as any act designed to avoid participating honestly in the learning
process. Collaboration on problem sets is not permitted. Failure to substantially revise material taken from a
textbook, website, or other source will be considered plagiarism. Scholastic dishonesty also includes, but is not
limited to, providing false or misleading information to move a test or to receive an extension on an
assignment. By participating in the course, you have agreed to these guidelines and must adhere to them.
Violation may lead to disciplinary penalties, including a reduced course grade, failure in the course and/or
dismissal from the University. You are responsible for the definitions of plagiarism and unauthorized
collaboration found at http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/scholdis_collaboration.php
and http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/scholdis_plagiarism.php. See Blackboard for hints and
http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/scholdis_avoid_para.php for further clarification.
 Approximate Course Schedule

Date Topic Reading

Th 26 Syllabus review; DNA structure 9: 221-224
Aug
T 31 DNA structure and Replication 9: 227-241; 11: 270-271, 274-286

Th 2 Replication 11: 288-292

T7 Transcription 12: 297-305
12: 305-309; omit regulatory elements
Th 9 Transcription
omit chromatin structure
T 14 RNA processing 12: 309-318; 15: 407-409
Th 16 Translation 13: 324-347
Sept
T 21 Translation 13: 347-355
Th 23 Mutation 16A: 424-432
F 24 Q&A with Dr. Finklea, 6-8pm, location TBA –
M 27 EXAM ONE, 6-8 PM, BUR 106 & 112 Chapters 9, 11, 12, 13, and 16A
T 28 Bacterial Genetics 10: 248-251; 6: 131-139, 146-148
Th 30 Bacterial Genetics 6: 142-144, 150-151

T5 Chromosome structure and organization 10: 251-266

Th 7 Regulation of gene expression 14: 360-370
T 12 Regulation of gene expression 14: 372-376
Th 14 Regulation of gene expression 15: 392-396, Fig 15.1
T 19 DNA technology 18: 482-488 (not recommended)
Oct
W 20 Q drop deadline –
Th 21 DNA technology 18: 503-506, 495-499 (not recommended)
19: Fig 19.1, 518-526, 535-538
T 26 DNA technology
(not recommended)
Th 28 Mutagenesis and repair 16B: 432-7, 440-1 (not recommended)

M1 Q&A with Dr. Finklea, 6-8pm, location TBA –

Mutagenesis and repair 16B: 443-450; 441-443 (not recommended)
T2
EXAM TWO, 6-8 PM, WEL 1.308 & 1.316 Chapters 6, 10, 14, 15, 18, and 19
Th 4 Cell division and genetic recombination 3: 45-47, end 48-57, Fig 3.13, 60-62
T9 Mendel 2: 17-28
Th 11 Mendel 2: 30-36, omit binomial; 5: 103-109
Nov T 16 Chromosome mapping 5: 100-103, 109-117; 20: 544-546
Th 18 Pedigrees 2: 29-30; 4: 81-84
Fri 19 Q&A with Dr. Finklea, 6-8pm, location TBA –
M 22 EXAM THREE, 6-8 PM, BUR 106 & 112 Chapters 16B, 3, and 2
T 23 Variations on Mendel’s theme 4: 71-76, 79-81, 84-86
Th 25 Thanksgiving –
T 30 Variations on Mendel’s theme assigned reading: 4:87-88, 91-92

Th 2 Cancer genetics 22: 610-626

Dec
M 13 FINAL EXAM, 2-5PM, LOCATION TBA Comprehensive

Disabilities On an SSD letter, please bracket the accommodations you intend to use on the first exam. You may make changes
via an email to Dr. Finklea at any time; you therefore aren’t limiting your possible accommodations, but
communicating your current requests so that accommodations can be arranged. For more information regarding
academic adjustments for qualified students with disabilities, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259,
471-4641 TTY.

Copyright All materials presented in lectures and exams in this class are copyrighted by Dr. Beverly J. Finklea. No materials
may be directly or indirectly published, posted to Internet or intranet distribution channels, broadcast, or rewritten for
broadcast or publication or redistribution in any medium. Neither these materials nor any portion thereof may be
stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use. Further, these materials may be used only by
University of Texas students who are officially registered for Biology 325.