Prerequisites: BIOL 302 (Molecular and General Genetics) and BIOL 303 (Cell Biology) or equivalent courses with a grade of C or better are required. From these courses, students are expected to have mastered the basic concepts of bacterial genetics and molecular biology. The relevant material is covered in Chapters 10-18 and 20-23 of Principles of Genetics, 3rd Edition by Snustad and Simmons, and in Chapters 2-7, 14, 16-17, and 19 of iGenetics by Russell, the texts used in BIOL 302 the past few years.

Text: No text is required. Instead, readings from the scientific literature will be assigned for each class period. Students should make their own copies of the papers and bring them to class. In addition, it would be useful to have an introductory genetics text available.

Grading:  

• Class participation (including quizzes): 30%
• Mid-term Exam (Thurs., March 25, 9:00 am): 30%
• Written critique of journal article due Thurs, April 29): 10%*
  
• Final Exam (Thurs., May 18, 10:30 am- 12:30 pm): 30%

Exam grades are usually curved and 5 points will be added to the scores of the BIOL 434 students after the curve has been set.

*The writing assignment is optional. For those who choose not to do it, the exams will each count 35% of the final grade and class participation will remain at 30% of the final grade. 

Class Participation: One to two papers will be covered each class period, with different students answering the questions about background, objective, methods, results, and conclusions. These randomly chosen participants will be graded as follows:

In addition, extra credit is given for a voluntary correct answer, with 3 such answers equal to an A when called on at-random.