Introductory Genetics Laboratory

3 credits · Undergraduate credit

This Genetics lab is a project based lab using the animal model systems of fruit flies, Drosphila melanogaster, and small microscopic worms, C. elegans. The first part of the course will use Drosophila to identify new regulators of a cell-cell communication pathway that is utilized during development. Students will also use standard genetic techniques to identify the chromosomal location of the new regulators. Finally, PCR followed by sequence analysis will help identify potential genes involved in the signaling pathway. In the second part of the course, students will use C. elegans to identify new regulators of dosage compensation. This is a project based lab and there will be certain weeks where students must do lab work outside of the normal lab period. The extra lab time is somewhat flexible and students can fit lab work into a schedule that works with their other obligations.