Fall 2008

ANS 378 Animal Genetics

CRN 11679

Department of Animal Sciences

   

      

         

            
Lecture
            Schedule  *
                        
Journal
            Reports
                        
Web
            Links
                        
Dates
            for Quizzes, etc. *
         
      
   
** Revised Nov. 7, 2008

Instructor: Thomas F. Savage, Ph.D.
 114 Withycombe Hall
 Telephone: 737-5066
 email: Thomas.Savage@oregonstate.edu If you plan to email questions, comments, etc. please review my policy)

Office Hours: By appointment or "when the office light is on."

Course Prerequisite: ANS 121, (1 year of Biology, and 1 term of Statistics is highly recommended) or Instructor's Approval

Teaching Assistant: Sarah-Cate Antoine, With 56, Office Hrs by appointment, email: antoinsa@onid.orst.edu

Primary Text*: Genetics, A Conceptual Approach, 3rd ed, 2008 by Benjamin Pierce, W.H. Freeman Publ.	

Course Web Sites:    http://www.orst.edu/instruct/ans378f/ANS378.html
  					(This is not a Blackboard site)
		Supplemental:   http://whfreeman.com/pierce3e

Class Meetings:  M-W-R-F
 1:00-1:50 PM 
 Withycombe Hall 109 

For you to develop an appreciation of the PRINCIPLES of genetics as applied to animals and their improvement. You will become acquainted with the inheritance of traits significant in domestic species, natural populations, and humans.

By the conclusion of the course you should have developed an understanding/appreciation of:

Additional resource materials will be incorporated where appropriate using the Internet and the Pierce 3rd Ed. site (http://whfreeman.com/pierce3e). There will be a reliance upon the Web to supplement the course lectures. The ANS student computer Lab located in Withycombe 300C is available for your use. Read the suggested text assignments prior to lecture!

This course has four additional objectives:

1. Enhance your writing skills utilizing the animal genetics literature,
2. Improve your ability to think and reason for yourself while developing an appreciation of genetics and life,
3. Become aware of the scientific journals pertinent to your area of interest, the current limits of genetic information
 	pertinent to your animal of interest, and an appreciation for your genetics text.
4. Familiarity with supplemental information resources for animal genetics.

Notes:

Class attendance is not required but you are responsible for the subject matter, completing journal reports, and assignments that may be posted within the hyperlinked lecture dates below. If changes are implemented,they will be listed in the appropriate Lecture Notes link for Web posted announcements, a revised posting date will be noted (e.g. rev date & time, in red). 

If you do not intend to actively participate in this course (e.g. asking questions, reading the assigned materials prior to class, etc) do not enroll.

-Special announcements, reminders, supplemental materials, relevant questions pertaining to the lecture, etc. will be posted by Date. 

Date	Lecture No.	Topic*	Pierce, Genetics, A Conceptual Approach, 3rd Ed
Sept 29	1	Introduction 'When a Gene Makes You Smell Like A Fish'	1:1-13
Oct 1	2	Mitosis and Meiosis "Blind Man's Riddle"	2:16-35
2	3	Gregor Mendel and His Peas	3:43-51
3*	4	DNA Chemistry 'Neanderthal's DNA'	10
6	5	DNA, It's Replication 'Preventing Train Wrecks'	12
8	6	Transcription and RNA	13 & 14
9	7	Translation and the Genetic Code 'Diptheria Toxin'	15
10	8	Structure of the Chromosome 'How Much DNA Makes an Organism?'	11:285-96
13	9	Mendelian Genetics in Animals-Dominance/Recessive 'Peas to Animals'	3:43-56
15 15a	10	Probability Tests of a Genetic Hypothesis 'Am I Correct ?'	3:51-4; 62-4
16	11	Two or More Pairs of Genes 'Segregation Behavior'	3:57-62
17	12	Penetrance, Expressivity, and Multiple Alleles 'More About the Phenotype'	5:102-04
20	13	Exam # 1
22	14	Sex-linked Inheritance 'X,Y,Z, and W'	4:73-91
23	15	Sex-limited and -influenced Traits, Dosage Effects 'Eggs and Rooster'	5:114-21
24	16	Epistasis and Modifying Genes 'Yellow Labrador Retrievers'	5:105-14
27	17	Epistasis and Modifying Genes cont'd, 'The Rat Tail Syndrome'
29	18	Lethal Genes and Their Detection 'Cuenot's Odd Yellow Mice'	5:99, 103
30	19	Linkage 'Fruit Flies With White Eyes'	7:160-89
31	20	Chromosome Aberrations 'Once In A Blue Moon'	9:237-60
Nov 3 ** Nov 7**	21	A Case Study ** Peer Review Instructions**
5 6	22-23	Gene Frequency and the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium 'Counting Alleles'	25:679-96
* 7  10	24	Exam #2
10	25	Quantitative Inheritance 'Porkier Pigs'	24:645-66
12	26	Genetic Selection, 'Which Way ?'	24:666-9
13	27	Genetic Selection,cont'd
14	28	Selection Methods 'Does It Work?'
17	29	Responses to Selection 'How Long Can We Continue'	24:669
19	30	Genetic Correlations	24:654-8
20	31	Inbreeding 'Relatives'	25:687-9
21	32	Heterosis & GxE Interaction	24:669
24	33	Breeding Objectives and Plans 'How To'
26	34	Molecular Genetics 'Jumping Genes'	11:297-309
Dec 1	35	Molecular Genetics 'The Search for QTL's'	19-21
3	36	Molecular Genetics
4	37	Breeding for Disease Resistance 'A Strategy'	23
5	38	Gene Conservation 'Why Save?'
9	39	Comprehensive Final Exam 9:30 AM

*The schedule of topics is subject to change / substitution - revised Oct 31

Writing Assignments

• Graded Journal Reports will be developed from peer reviewed scientific journal articles. The reports are intended to expose you to the genetics literature and the scientific writing style pertaining to your animal of interest. The collection of your reports when collated and submitted prior to term closure will constitute the journal component of the final course grade. Lost journal reports will result in a loss of points to be decided by the instructor.

Examinations/Quizzes

Your understanding of the course materials will be evaluated during two 50-minute exams (each 100 points),5 weekly quizzes (each 25 points - see note below), and a comprehensive final exam (100 points). The hour exams and quizzes will be scheduled for Fridays when possible.

Quizzes will be given during the latter part of the lecture period.

The quizzes will have two purposes:

1. assist and reinforce understanding the course material,
2. prepare you for the exams.

The quizzes will be composed of questions/problems some of which may be from the comprehension, application, and challenge questions at the ends of the chapters in Pierce, and the Pierce web site, etc. Your 4 highest quiz scores will contribute to the determination of the final grade - missed quizzes will not be "made up" except in unusual circumstances (the first quiz missed will be regarded as your lowest score).

In fairness to all students in this class, missed exams can only be made up if you scheduled in advance or contact me as soon as possible in case of illness or legitimate emergency (e.g. 'My dog ate the course notes I was using to prepare for the exam' , 'My alarm clock malfunctioned' or 'I had another or more important exam on the same day' - unacceptable).

I am willing to discuss any concerns you may have regarding the grading of exams or quizzes. If you believe that your answer to a particular question deserves more credit than you were awarded, carefully consider your case and schedule a meeting to discuss your concern. Concerns regarding an exam or quiz score must be registered with the instructor no later than 3 school days from the date the exam/quiz is returned in class.

There will be some study problems to solve, out-of-class readings, and possibly short library-type Web activities posted in the Lecture Notes section (Dates) to assist you in your study of genetics. Materials from these assignments will be incorporated into the exams.

Instruction Style and Class Participation:

• The classes will consist of lecture presentations with the opportunity to discuss the concepts. The subject matter will be addressed using overhead transparencies, PowerPoint presentations, computer links, handouts, and other resource persons where appropriate. 
• The environment for this class will be the interaction of the instructor and you, the student. Questions are encouraged with the goal of creating an atmosphere where both you and I can learn from each other. If you have questions regarding the materials discussed in the class and YOU do not make an effort to have them answered, your grade may be adversely affected. Thus, make an effort to see me and insure your understanding of the material. Genetics can be exciting !
• Do not wait until just prior to an exam to have a concept clarified or ask a question, email me or stop by my office and seek assistance. A Teaching Assistant is also available.Questions can be submitted by email. The use of proper punctuation, grammar, sentence structure, and correct spelling in email correspondence will be expected. If your email is not properly prepared (lacks sentence structure, punctuation, improper grammar, misspelled words, or is simply sloppy,) your email will be returned - unanswered. Communications utilizing email should contain the same quality elements as a written document since both represent you and may impact your future achievements.
• Cell Phones and Class Conversations: To avoid unnecessary disruptions in the class, please mute cell phones during the scheduled class periods. Conversations during the class period are to be limited to the lecture materials.
• Academic Integrity:

  Students are expected to be honest and ethical in their academic work.

  Academic dishonesty is defined as any intentional act of deception such as:
  * cheating- use or attempted use of unauthorized materials in a quiz or exam,
   information or study aids
  * fabrication- falsification or invention of any information including copying of or rewording another's journal reports.
  * assisting- helping another commit an act of academic dishonesty
  * tampering- altering (falsification) or interfering with evaluation instruments and
   documents
  * plagiarism- representing the words or ideas of another person as
   one's own 

  When evidence of academic dishonesty has been detected/observed, etc. comes to the instructor's attention, the instructor will document the incident, and permit the accused student to provide an explanation. The instructor may impose an academic penalty up to and including an "F" grade in the course. The instructor will report the incident and the action taken to the department head, college dean(s), and university administration for possible further disciplinary action(s).

• Any ANS 378 Quiz, Exam, and or Journal Report not claimed after the fourth day of school following the return of the Quiz, Exam, and or Journal Report in the ANS 378 class will be disposed of. The student will assume responsibility and consequences associated with unclaimed quizzes, exams or reports.

The final letter grading will be as follows--please take note.

The final course grade will be derived in the following manner:
 
 20% 1st Exam (M, Oct. 20)
 20% 2nd Exam (F, Nov. 7)
 20% Comprehensive Final Exam* (T, Dec. 9 @ 9:30 AM)
 20% Best 4 (of 5) Weekly quizzes 
 20% Journal Report Collection (Due F, Dec 5 @ 5 PM)

* Since the final exam is all inclusive (comprehensive), if your final exam score is higher than  both preceding hourly exams, the final exam score will replace the lowest earlier exam grade when calculating the final course grade.

The final course letter grade of A = 93 points or more. All concerns regarding course points earned prior to the final examination must be communicated to the course instructor no later than 5 PM on the day of the last lecture. You are responsible for your grade.

There is NO scaling of grades.