BIOLOGY 3133 - GENETICS LABORATORY
INSTRUCTOR: John Placyk, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology
Office – HPR 110; 903-566-7147
Office hours – M/W/F 10 AM – 11 AM and by appointment
E-mail –
MEETING TIME AND PLACE: Wednesday or Friday 12:20 PM – 3:10 PM in BEP 129
REQUIRED TEXT: Genetics: Laboratory Investigations by T. R. Mertens and R. L. Hammersmith,
14th ed., Pearson, 2015.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: An introduction to experimental and quantitative laboratory techniques
fundamental to genetic analysis.
STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of BIOL 3133, the student should be able to
· outline the basic procedures for culturing and experimenting with Drosophila melanogaster
· recognize and interpret Drosophila and maize F2 data that illustrate Mendel’s law of segregation
· recognize and interpret F2 data that illustrate Mendel’s law of independent assortment
· list the necessary conditions for obtaining independent assortment
· recognize and interpret dihybird F2 data that illustrate genic interactions
· define and give an example of what is meant by the concept of chance
· use probability principles in solving problems concerning independent events occurring simultaneously, binomial expansion, and mutually exclusive events
· apply probability concepts to the analysis of human pedigrees
· calculate X2 to determine whether a given set of data approximates a theoretically expected ratio
· compare and contrast the mitotic process in plant and animal cells
· outline the procedure for preparing an acetocarmine squash of a root tip to demonstrate the process of mitosis
· list the unique features of meiosis that set it apart from mitosis
· diagram how an X-linked gene is transmitted from parents to F1 and F2 generations in an experimental mating of Drosophila
· measure the map distance between autosomally linked genes using dihybrid F2 data
· extract DNA from tissue
· operate a spectrophotometer
· describe how restriction endonuclease-produced fragments can be used for mapping the DNA of an organism
· outline a procedure for conducting the polymerase chain reaction
· genetically transform E. coli
· outline a protocol for preparing a chromatogram to demonstrate variations in pteridine pigments in Drosophila
· learn how to sequence mtDNA genes and then analyze that sequence data
· use Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium theory to determine gene and allele frequencies in populations
GRADING POLICY: The final grade will be determined as follows:
Quizzes (administered on Canvas and in class, ten points each, best 10 kept) 50%
Final Comprehensive Laboratory Exam 25%
Drosophila Laboratory Report (Due week of December 4th) 25%
Letter grades will be assigned according to the following scale:
A = 90-100 B = 80-89 C = 70-79 D = 60-69 F = below 60
All course grades will be in Canvas, so students will be able to calculate their current grade at any time.
Exam/Quiz Make-up Policy
If a student is unable to take an exam as scheduled, a make-up will be arranged ONLY if the reason is legitimate, and the instructor is notified IN ADVANCE of the time the exam is scheduled, either through the telephone or e-mail. Students who fail to make appropriate arrangements will receive a grade of “0” for the exam missed. There will be no exceptions.
Drosophila Laboratory Report
The Drosophila genetics lab will require a full laboratory report. This report is to be treated as if you were submitting it to be published in the journal Genetics. Details for preparing the manuscript can be found at http://www.genetics.org/misc/ifora.dtl. A guide to writing your lab report will also be available on Canvas. You are expected to write a full introduction (not one sentence), materials and methods, results, and discussion and conclusion.
A Note About Crosses
Crosses take about 10 to 14 days to get countable results for accurate genetic analysis. Therefore, if you have to make a series of sequential crosses, say 3, it will take you 30 to 43 days to get results (that's 4.3 to 6.1 weeks); plan, plan, plan. Reciprocal crosses can be done at the same time. You will need to spend time outside of scheduled laboratory time to be successful with the crosses, i.e., checking cultures, preparing cultures, counting flies, etc.
A Note About Your General Responsibility in the Lab
Clean up after yourself. If you use it, put it back; if you dirty it, clean it up; at all times practice safe laboratory practices. Do not bring food or drink into the laboratory.
Academic Misconduct
Submitting plagiarized work to meet academic requirements including the representation of another’s work or ideas as ones own; the unacknowledged word for word use of another persons ideas; and/or the falsification, fabrication, or dishonesty in reporting research results shall be grounds for charges of academic misconduct. Any cheating or other type of academic misconduct will be reported to university administration and at minimum will result in automatic failure of the course.
Students Rights and Responsibilities
To know and understand the policies that affect your rights and responsibilities as a student at UT Tyler, please follow this link: http://www.uttyler.edu/wellness/StudentRightsandResponsibilities.html
Grade Replacement/Forgiveness
If you are repeating this course for a grade replacement, you must file an intent to receive grade forgiveness with the registrar ASAP. Failure to do so will result in both the original and repeated grade being used to calculate your overall grade point average. Undergraduates will receive grade forgiveness (grade replacement) for only three course repeats; graduates, for two course repeats during his/her career at UT Tyler.
State-Mandated Course Drop Policy
Texas law prohibits a student who began college for the first time in Fall 2007 or thereafter from dropping more than six courses during their entire undergraduate career. This includes courses dropped at another 2-year or 4-year Texas public college or university. For purposes of this rule, a dropped course is any course that is dropped after the 12th day of class (See Schedule of Classes for the specific date). Exceptions to the 6-drop rule may be found in the catalog. Petitions for exemptions must be submitted to the Registrar's Office and must be accompanied by documentation of the extenuating circumstance. Please contact the Registrar's Office if you have any questions.
Disability Services
In accordance with federal law, a student requesting accommodation must provide documentation of his/her disability to the Disability Support Services counselor. If you have a disability, including a learning disability, for which you request an accommodation, please contact Ida MacDonald in the Disability Support Services office in UC 282, or call (903) 566-7079.
Student Absence due to Religious Observance
Students who anticipate being absent from class due to a religious observance are requested to inform the instructor of such absences by the second class meeting of the semester.
Student Absence for University-Sponsored Events and Activities
If you intend to be absent for a university-sponsored event or activity, you (or the event sponsor) must notify the instructor at least two weeks prior to the date of the planned absence. At that time the instructor will set a date and time when make-up assignments will be completed.
Social Security and FERPA Statement
It is the policy of The University of Texas at Tyler to protect the confidential nature of social security numbers. The University has changed its computer programming so that all students have an identification number. The electronic transmission of grades (e.g., via e-mail) risks violation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act; grades will not be transmitted electronically.
Emergency Exits and Evacuation
Everyone is required to exit the building when a fire alarm goes off. Follow your instructor’s directions regarding the appropriate exit. If you require assistance during an evacuation, inform your instructor in the first week of class. Do not re-enter the building unless given permission by University Police, Fire department, or Fire Prevention Services.
LABORATORY SCHEDULE
WEEK OF LAB
AUG 28 Lab Safety
Investigation 1: Drosophila and Maize Experiments in Genetics: Monohybrid and Dihybrid Crosses
SEPT 4 Investigation 2: Principles of Probability
Investigation 3: The Chi-Square Test
SEPT 11 Investigation 4: Cell Reproduction: Mitosis
Investigation 5: Meiosis in Animals: Oogenesis and Spermatogenesis
Drosophila Culturing and Crosses
SEPT 18 Investigation 7: Polytene Chromosomes from Drosophila Salivary Glands
Investigation 9: The Sex Check: A Study of Sex Chromatin in Human Cells
Investigation 10: Human Chromosomes
SEPT 25 Investigation 12: Genetics of Ascospore Color in Sordaria: An Investigation of Linkage and Crossing Over
Using Tetrad Analysis – Experiment set-up
Investigation 17: Transformation of Escherichia coli – Experiment set-up
OCT 2 Collect data from Sordaria and transformation labs
OCT 9 BIO-RAD PV 92 PCR/ Informatics: fragment amplification, see Investigations 14 and 16
OCT 16 BIO-RAD PV 92 PCR/ Informatics: Electrophoresis
OCT 23 BIO-RAD Restriction Endonuclease Digestion and DNA Gel Electrophoresis, see Investigation 15
OCT 30 BIO-RAD Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) investigated by real-time PCR – Experiment set-up
NOV 6 BIO-RAD evaluation of GMO foods by real-time PCR – Data collection
NOV 13 Investigation 23: Population Genetics: The Hardy-Weinberg Principle
Investigation 24: Population Genetics: Effects of Selection and Genetic Drift
NOV 20 NO LABS – Thanksgiving Break
NOV 27 Final Exam Review
DEC 4 Drosophila Laboratory Reports Due
FINAL COMPREHENSIVE EXAM