Genetics

Genetics is a fascinating topic that is frequently in the news. “Learn valuable health and ancestry information” and “Discover your genetic risk for disease” are just a few of the advertisements for direct-to-consumer genetic test kits. This course demystifies genetics and is open to anyone who wishes to learn more about inherited traits, their variation, and how they are transmitted between generations. It will provide an introduction to the principles of genetics with an emphasis on human disease. Topics include: fundamental concepts of Mendelian inheritance; basic principles of molecular genetics; inheritance patterns of genetic diseases; the human genome project; and the potential of personalized medicine.

Goals and Objectives:

• Provide a basic understanding of the inheritance patterns of traits as they are passed from parents to offspring.
• Cover the fundamental concepts of the molecular structure and replication of the genetic material, gene expression, and types of mutations.
• Highlight examples of human genetic disorders.
• Other topics to be covered include genetic testing and treatment, the human genome project, and personalized medicine.

Format

This course is offered in an online asynchronous format. There are no set meeting times, however, students follow a weekly schedule and there will be deadlines to meet in terms of course requirements. This course cannot be completed at an accelerated rate.