Introduction to Cytogenetics

4 units · Undergraduate upper division (100-199)

Lecture, one hour; discussion, two hours. Limited to upper-division biology students. Cytogenetics is branch of genetics concerned with study of structure and function of cells, especially chromosomes. Coverage of broad range of topics on both clinical aspects and research in cytogenetics. Studies provide important paradigms to understand structure of chromosomes, mechanisms of chromosome segregation, diseases, and problems created for numerical and structural abnormalities of human chromosomes as well as study of new techniques in molecular cytogenetics, including fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), and array CGH to diagnose constitutional syndromes and cancer. Journal club sessions include discussion of two journal articles per meeting (one clinical and one basic/translational). Presentation of at least one journal article and leading of one group discussion required. Letter grading.