MCB422 home

This course is likely different from any other you have taken.
THIS IS NOT A COURSE TO LEARN GENETICS!
MCB422 IS A COURSE TO LEARN HOW TO SOLVE PROBLEMS BY APPLYING GENETICS AND HOW TO THINK CLEARLY AND CREATIVELY. MCB/ECOL 320 IS A PREREQUISTE.

In contrast to the traditional format of biology lab courses, MCB422 relies entirely on computer simulations of classical genetic experiments. MCB422 features three major topics (modules): a) Cricket (phage genetics) features classical experiments deducing the nature of genes and the genetic code as originally performed by Seymour Benzer, Sir Francis Crick, and many others; b) MendelStar ( Mendelian genetics) features the few basic rules of classical genetics first described by Gregor Mendel and some of the more interesting exceptions; c) PathFinder (yeast genetics) features modern experiments designed to genetically dissect molecular signaling pathways of the cell cycle.

The course was developed by Dr. Bruce Patterson who has created computer simulations of genetic experiments that enable you to apply the principles of genetics. The learning will come from your own experimental efforts working with the "cool" simulations Bruce has developed. The goals of the course are:
- to acquaint you with the tools and principles of Genetics--and how to apply them!
- to foster your "critical thinking" skills
- to leave you with understandings that will persist beyond the end of the semester

It will be your task to solve 18 genetic problems (6 per topic) by developing an experimental strategy and succesfully executing it. You will be assessed not only on successful completion of the task at hand but also on how you documented your experimental findings in your notebook report.

Notebook Reports: This link explains the required format of the notebook report, and provides you with a good (that may prove useful in doing problem #2!) and a bad example of a report. The link also explains how to submit your notebook report as electronic entry through the D2L web-site of the course.

Grades and Notebook submission: This link takes you to the D2L website of the course. Log in using your UA-net-ID and open link to MCB_Ecol422 Spring 2010 in the window "academic courses". Submit notebook reports in the "dropbox" and monitor your progress in the "grades" section of the site.
(To access your course on D2L you must have a UA NetID and be officially enrolled in the course for at least 24 hours. Your browser and its settings must be compatible with D2L.)