Advanced Genetics

Biology 3595A
Fall 2017

This course will provide a framework for advanced study of a wide variety of genetic topics
through direct interaction with published literature and active researchers associated with the
Biology Department.

Prerequisites: Minimum grade of 70% in Biology 2581B

Instructor: Dr. Patrick McDonald (pmcdona5@uwo.ca)

Assistant Professor, Department of Biology

Office: Collip room 209

Office Hour: Thursday 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Lectures: Tuesday and Thursday 9:30 - 10:30 am in B&G 0165

Lecture slides will be posted on OWL

Tutorials: Thursday 3:30 – 4:30 pm in NCB 295

Thursday 4:30 – 5:30 pm in B&G 1056

Teaching Assistants: Adam Chin-Fatt (achinfat@uwo.ca)

Shrikaar Kambhampati (skambham@uwo.ca)

OWL site: http://owl.uwo.ca will be the central location for materials relating to Bio3595A. The
OWL forum is the primary location for students to ask questions about the course
and lecture material.

Course Evaluation:
Background Assessments 25% 5 (5%) Assessments (in class as listed on schedule)
Wikipedia Improvement Project 25% Improve a wikipedia article
Reflections 5% 3 reflections (due dates listed on schedule)
Term Test (50 min. in class) 15% Thursday October 29 in class
Final Exam (3 hours) 30% December Exam Schedule

Learning Outcomes:
• Relate and distinguish the various methods and principles of advanced genetic research.
• Question and discuss advanced genetic research with the scientists who are conducting it.
• Analyze an advanced genetic topic and assemble an improved accounting of it available to
the public domain.
Accessibility Statement:
If you require any arrangements to make this course more accessible, contact Services for Students
with Disabilities (SSD). Email: ssd@uwo.ca Phone: (519) 661-2147

Absence From Term Test or Final Exam:

If you are unable to write the midterm or final exam due to illness or other serious circumstances,
you must inform your instructor by email and provide valid medical or supporting documentation to
the Academic Counselling Office. It can be contacted at 519-661-3040 or scibmsac@uwo.ca.

For further information, please consult the university’s medical illness policy at
http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/accommodation_illness.pdf.

Students who are unable to write the midterm exam before the original exam is returned to the class
will have a reweighed final exam.

Support Services:

Learning-skills counsellors at the Student Development Centre (http://www.sdc.uwo.ca) are ready

to help you improve your learning skills. Individual support is offered throughout the Fall/Winter
terms in the drop-in Learning Help Centre, and year-round through individual counselling.

Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Mental Health@Western

(http://www.uwo.ca/uwocom/mentalhealth/) for a complete list of options about how to obtain help.

Additional student-run support services are offered by the USC, http://westernusc.ca/services.

The website for Registrarial Services is http://www.registrar.uwo.ca.

Additional Statements:

Accommodation for work worth less than 10% will be referred to the student's Dean's Office or
Academic Counselling unit.

No electronic devices will be permitted for tests or exams.

Tentative Course Schedule – Fall 2017
Week Date Class Tutorial
Thurs. Sept. 7 Welcome to Bio 3595A No Tutorial
Tues. Sept. 12 Concept Review Intro: AdGen Wikipedia
1 Project
Thurs. Sept.14 Concept Review
Initial reflection
Tues. Sept. 19 Paper 1:"Alteration of Gene Expression, DNA Methylation, Paper 1: Figures
and Histone Methylation in Free Radical Scavenging Wiki: Have a look
Networks in Adult Mouse Hippocampus following Fetal around
2 Alcohol Exposure" (2016) Background" Initial reflection
due
Thurs. Sept. 21 Paper 1: Introduction
Background Assessment 1
Tues. Sept. 26 Paper 1: Dr. Eric Diehl in class Wiki: Becoming an
3 Editor
Thurs. Sept. 28 Paper 1: Follow up
Tues. Oct. 3 Paper 2: "Modulation of social space by dopamine in Paper 2: figures
Drosophila melanogaster, but no effect on the avoidance Wiki: Picking a Topic
4 of the Drosophila stress odorant" (2017) Background
Thurs. Oct. 5 Paper 2: Introduction
Background Assessment 2
Tues. Oct. 10
5 Fall Reading Week Fall Reading Week
Thurs. Oct. 12
Tues. Oct. 17 Paper 2: Dr. Anne Simon in class Wiki: Culture and
6 etiquette and moving
Thurs. Oct. 19 Term Test in Class (50 min)
articles to mainspace
Tues. Oct. 24 Paper 2: Follow up Paper 3: Figures
Paper 3: "Co-expression with the Type 3 Secretion Wiki: Building articles
Chaperone CesT from Enterohemorrhagic E. Coli
7 Increases Accumulation of Recombinant Tir in Plant
Chloroplasts" (2017) Background
Thurs. Oct. 26 Paper 3: Introduction
Background Assessment 3
Tues. Oct. 31 Paper 3: Dr. Rima Menassa in class Wiki: Complete first
8 draft
Thurs. Nov. 2 Paper 3: Follow up
Tues. Nov. 7 Paper 4: "Systematic phenomics analysis deconvolutes Paper 4: Figures
intellectual disability genes into biologically coherent Wiki: Group
9 modules.” (2017) Background suggestions
Thurs. Nov. 9 Paper 4: Introduction
Background Assessment 4
Tues. Nov. 14 Paper 4: Dr. Jamie Kramer in class Wiki: Media literacy
10
Thurs. Nov. 16 Paper 4: Follow up
Tues. Nov. 21 Paper 5: "Subcellular localization of Arabidopsis Paper 5: Figures
arogenate dehydratases suggests novel and non- Wiki: Further article
11 enzymatic roles" (2017) Background improvements
Thurs. Nov. 23 Paper 5: Introduction
Background Assessment 5
Tues. Nov. 28 Paper 5: Dr. Susanne Kohalmi in class Wiki: Final article
12 Reflection on any one
Thurs. Nov. 30 Paper 5: Follow up
of the papers due
Tues. Dec. 5 Review Final Reflection due
13 Review
Thurs. Dec. 7 Review