Genetic Susceptibility & Toxicogenomics

(4 Credits)

Genetic variation at many loci has been described in human and wildlife populations. Recent studies have explored the relationships between this variation and susceptibility to diseases. This course examines the extent of genetic variation in genomes, the techniques by which sensitive genes and allelic variants are identified, and the consequences of genetic variation on phenotypic expression. Emphasis is on the relationship between genetic variation and susceptibility to environmentally induced diseases, such as cancers, through effects on toxicant metabolism, DNA repair, and signal transduction genes. The role of genetic adaptations to resistance of natural populations of wildlife is also presented. In addition, emphasis is on epidemiological techniques used to explore relationships between polymorphisms and disease and the moral and legal ramifications of access to this data.