Education

2011 Fall Classes

2011 Fall Term

Genetics/Genomics-Related Courses:

GENOME 98FCS Secrets of Life: DNA Human Identity
Misha Angrist
MW 10:05 – 11:20
Exploration of DNA and all of its meanings: scientific, cultural, societal, legal, artistic. Course will begin with identification of DNA as genetic material and move forward to the current and future impact of personal genomics and whole-genome sequencing. Writing-intensive.

PUBPOL 196VFCS The Genome and the Internet: Growing up Together
Bob Cook-Deegan
MW 11:40 – 12:55
Explore interactions and co-evolution of science, technology, society, and policy through examination of the genome revolution and the internet revolution: Use history, science, ethics, and policy to examine the unique climate of research and development immediately following WWII. Focus on issues surrounding the genome revolution, including eugenics and race, ancestry testing, direct-to-consumer genetic testing, and intellectual property. Open only to students in the FOCUS program. One course.

BIO 102L Genetics and Evolution
Donohue, Noor, Rausher, Willis or staff
TuTh 10:05AM - 11:20AM F 8:30AM - 9:45AM
Introduction to principles transmission genetics and evolution. Includes Mendelian and non-Mendelian inheritance, quantitative genetics, genetic mapping, evidence for evolution, natural selection, genetic drift, kin selection, speciation, molecular evolution, phylogenetic analysis. Relevance to human family and social structure, evolution of infectious disease, human hereditary disorders, social implications of genetic knowledge.

COMPSCI 160 Intro Computational Genomics
Alexander Hartemink
WF 10:05 – 11:20
A computational perspective on the analysis of genomic and genome-scale information. Focus on exploration and analysis of large genomic sequences, but also attention to issues in structural and functional genomics. Topics include genome sequence assembly, local and global alignment, gene and motif finding, protein threading and folding, and the clustering and classification of genes and tissues using gene expression data. Students to learn computational approaches to genomics as well as to develop practical experience with handling, analyzing, and visualizing information at a genome-scale

PHILOSOPHY 118 Issues in Medical Ethics
Jennifer Hawkins
TuTh 10:05 – 11:20
Ethical issues arising in connection with medical practice and research and medical technology. Definition of health and illness; experimentation and consent; genetic counseling and biological engineering; abortion, contraception, and sterilization; death and dying; codes of professional conduct; and the allocation of scarce medical resources. Prerequisite: for freshmen, previous philosophy course and consent of instructor.

EVANTH/GENOME 128FCS Evolutionary Genomic Analysis Methods
Juliann Horvath Roth
TuTh 2:50 – 4:05
Explore the role of genomic analysis from large¿scale genomic projects to basic biology and medical research. Learn how to use genomic analysis methods, online tools and resources for biological research--genome sequence alignment, phylogenetic tree construction and database mining. Discover how bioinformatic tools can address questions across disciplines such as anthropology, behavior and neuroscience. Consider how genomics and computational methods broaden our understanding of evolutionary theories and shape future research.

MATH 68 Mathematical Investigations in Genetics and Genomics
Tiffany Kolba
TuTh 4:25 – 5:40
Introduction to basic mathematical methods in genetics and genomics: Mendelian segregation, population allele frequencies, sex-linked traits, genetic recombination, sequence analysis, phylogenetic trees. Necessary background in elementary probability, statistics, and matrix algebra will be provided. Prerequisite: Mathematics 32, 32L, or 41L.

AAAS 159S Race, Genomics, and Society
Charmaine Royal
MW 11:40 – 12:55
Integrated analysis of historical and contemporary aspects of 'race and genetics/genomics'. Focus on relevant applications in science, medicine, and society; develop skills required for scientific, sociopolitical, cultural, psychosocial, and ethical evaluation of issues. Topics include: introduction to population genetics/genetic variation; concepts and definitions of race; overview of bioethics; social and political history of race; genomics and health disparities; race, ancestry, and medical practice; genealogy, genetic ancestry, and identity; public perceptions of race and genetics/genomics.

BIOLOGY 194FCS Genomes, Biology, and Medicine
Huntington Willard
TuTh 2:50 – 4:05
Implications of Human Genome Project for understanding biology of molecules, cells, organs, organisms and populations. Topics include: genome and evolution, infectious disease, sex, aging, behavior, impact on the practice of medicine and society's perception of health and disease. Examination of case studies based on primary scientific literature. Open only to students in the Focus Program. Prerequisite: Biology 19 or the equivalent.

Genetics/Genomics-Related Graduate Courses:

BIOLOGY 226 Genes & Development
L. Ryan Baugh
W 2:50 – 5:20
Literature-based seminar covering transcriptional regulation of development. Regulatory mechanisms and genome-wide approaches will be covered. Topics: embryogenesis, stem cells, transcription factors, regulatory networks, chromatin, nuclear organization, small RNAs, imprinting and Pol II pausing. Prerequisites: BIO 118 or BIO 101L.

BIO 262S Molecular Genetic Analysis
Amy Bejsovec
Tu 4:25 – 6:55
Seminar course designed to help students understand research talks by working scientists, such as those presented in the Developmental Biology Colloquium and the UPGG and CMB seminar series at Duke. Read and discuss research papers that use the yeast, C. elegans, and Drosophila genetic model systems to study cellular processes at the molecular level. Topics will include forward and reverse genetic screen strategies, gene manipulation and expression analysis, somatic mosaics and transgenics. Prerequisites: Biology 118, or Biology 101 and 102, or equivalent molecular genetics course.

CBB 220 Genome Tools and Technologies
Fred Dietrich
TuTh 10:05 – 11:20
This course introduces the laboratory and computational methodologies for genetic and protein sequencing, mapping and expression measurement.

BME 265 Advanced Topics: Biology by Design
Charles Gersbach
TuTh 11:40 – 12:55
Advanced subjects related to programs within biomedical engineering tailored to fit the requirements of a small group. Consent of instructor required.

BIO 205LS Experiments in Developemental and Molecular Genetics
Eric Spana
TuTh 1:15PM - 2:45PM + Lab TuTh 2:50PM - 5:15PM
Experimental approaches in development and genetics using animal and plant models. Laboratory training in molecular genetics, immunochemistry, microscopy, protein chemistry, and genetic screening. Experiments include immunochemical localization, in situ hybridization, polymerase chain reaction, genetic screening, embryo micromanipulation, microscopic imaging, and mutant analysis. Prerequisite: Biology 101L or 118; recommended, prior or concurrent registration in Biology 119.

BIO 280S Genetic Engineer/Biotech
Tai-Ping Sun
Tu 2:50 – 5:20
Applications of recombinant DNA in medicine and in agriculture. Topics include diagnosis of genetic diseases, gene therapy, drugs for AIDS and cancer, DNA fingerprinting, cloning of mammals, phytoremediation, crop improvement, and pharmaceutical protein production in transgenic plants and animals. Social and environmental impacts of biotechnology. Prerequisites: Biology 101L or 118 and 119 or consent of instructor.

CBB 222 Genome Science Technology Lab
Instructor: Tian
MW 2:50 – 4:30
Hands-on experience on using and developing advanced technology platforms for genomics and proteomics research. Experiments may include nucleic acid amplification and quantification, lab-on-chip, bimolecular separation and detection, DNA sequencing, SNP genotyping, microarrays, and synthetic biology techniques. Laboratory exercises and designing projects are combined with lectures and literature reviews. Prior knowledge in molecular biology and biochemistry is required. Instructor consent required.

BME 258L/ CBB 222 Genome Science Technology Lab
Jingdong Tian
MW 2:50 – 4:30
Hands-on experience on using and developing advanced technology platforms for genomics and proteomics research. Experiments may include nucleic acid amplification and quantification, lab-on-chip, bimolecular separation and detection, DNA sequencing, SNP genotyping, microarrays, and synthetic biology techniques. Laboratory exercises and designing projects are combined with lectures and literature reviews. Prior knowledge in molecular biology and biochemistry is required. Instructor consent required.

ENVIRON 298 Molecular Ecology
Jennifer Wernegreen
MW 11:40 – 12:55
Explore the field of molecular ecology, which employs molecular tools to investigate ecological processes within natural populations and communities. While genetic techniques are central to this discipline, the course will not be a methods class per se. Rather, we will emphasize fundamental principles and predictions from ecological and evolutionary theory, as well as historical approaches and precedents. We will explore examples from a range of organisms (bacteria, plants, animals, and fungi), and across diverse environments (terrestrial, aquatic, and marine). In addition to very basic ecological questions, we will discuss the interpretation of molecular datasets in applied studies with management implications (e.g., conservation genetics, GMO's, adaptation to a changing climate). The course will meet twice weekly: one interactive lecture and one discussion/analysis session.

BIO 274 Human Evolutionary Genomics
Greg Wray
TuTh 11:40 – 12:55
Human evolutionary history as studied from the perspective of the genome. Nature of contemporary genomic data and how they are interpreted in the context of the fossil record, comparative anatomy, psychology, and cultural studies. Examination of both the origin of modern humans as a distinct species and subsequent migration across the world. Emphasis on language, behavior, and disease susceptibility as traits of particular evolutionary interest. Prerequisite: Biology 101L and 102L or 118 or equivalent course.