Spring 2001: BIOL 221: Molecular Biology and Genetics

overview – instructors – course information – downloads – updates

overview

location 10 Leidy Laboratories

time T Th 12-1:30

syllabus BIOL 221 Syllabus + Schedule

This course will survey the discipline of Molecular Genetics. This will cover two broad areas – molecular biology and genetics:

Molecular Biology
We will discuss at the molecular level, processes such as DNA replication, transcription, and translation, and study the regulation of gene expression in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. We will also discuss recombinant DNA technology and learn how powerful this technology has proven in elucidating the mechanisms of complex genetic control, and insights it has provided on the molecular basis for many human diseases.
Genetics
We will discuss both Mendelian genetics and “modern” molecular genetics. We will learn how genes are passed from one generation to the next and how genetic analysis contributes to our understanding of other areas of Biology including Biochemistry and Cell Biology. These lectures will include a study of a variety of genetic systems including prokaryotes, eukaryotes and viruses.

professors

Cecilia Lo
201 Goddard Laboratories
email: clo@sas.upenn.edu
+1 215 898.8394 Nancy Bonini
306 Leidy Laboratories
email: nbonini@sas.upenn.edu
+1 215 573.9267

teaching assistants

Jason Wan
email: jwan@mail.med.upenn.edu
+1 215 898.6216 Anya Vlasek
email: avlasak@sas.upenn.edu
+1 215 898.4735

course information

textbook

The reading material may be purchased at the University of Pennsylvania bookstore:

Principles of Genetics, Second Edition, Snustad, Simmons and Jenkins (Wiley)

grading and exams

There will be two midterm exams scheduled during the semester and a third midterm given as Part I of the Final Exam in conjunction with a one hour cumulative Final Exam (Part II of Final Exam). Each exam, including the cumulative final, will each be worth 100 points.

As the course will be graded on a 300 point scale, only three of the four exams are to be included in the calculation of the final grade. Note that you are not required to take the Cumulative Final Exam if you think you have done well in the tree midterm exams. Since only three of the four exams are to be included in the calculation of your final grade, no make up exams will be given.

Questions about exam grading will be considered only during a two week interval after the day the exam has been returned to you. These questions must be submitted in writing. It should be noted that when an exam is being considered for regrading, all answers of the exam may be subject to reconsideration.

After an exam, the answer key will be posted on the bulletin board outside LL104.

lecture schedule

Please refer to the BIOL 221 PDF schedule for more information on this course.

academic integrity

All relevant University policies regarding Academic Integrity must be followed. This includes no cheating, no plagiarism and reporting any knowledge thereof. Please consult the Student Handbook or the appropriate web-page: http://www.college.upenn.edu/responsibilities/integrity.html

downloads

schedules

BIOL 221 Syllabus + Schedule

assignments + handouts

NA

exams

NA

course updates

02/13/2001
Course syllabus correction

Please note that the lecture on March 1 is titled, Molecular anslyusis of genes and gene products II, reading assignment is Chapter 22. It was erroneiously written as, "The genetic basis of cancer", Chapter 28, which actually will be covered later, on April 24th. Also, note that with this schedule correction, EXAM II will not include Chapter 28.

last updated September 28, 2001