Advanced Genetics

Undergraduate

Methods and strategies for the analysis of gene structure, function and genetic interactions. The course will examine how the genetic manipulation of model organisms, including yeast, Drosophila, C. elegans , and mouse, is used to explore the mechanisms of fundamental biological processes such as cell division, development, and intercellular communication. Emphasis will be placed on the application of classical genetic methods, including mutant screens, recombination and complementation analysis, genetic mosaics, and the use of conditional mutations. Modern molecular-based approaches, including gene knockout, gene dosage and misexpression studies will also be included. Three hours of lecture and one hour of discussion per week.