Lecture, chapter 01 - A perspective on human geneticsLecture, chapter 03 - Mendelian genetics

Today we finished chapter 01, with a discussion of the impact genetics has had and has in society, from eugenics, to biotechnology and the development of the Human Genome Project (HGP).

We started chapter 03, on inheritance of genes (transmission genetics or Mendelian genetics), with a brief discussion of the characteristics Mendel was looking for in the plants he would use for his studies. We, briefly and informally, stated the first of Mendel's principles, and set the stage to discuss the second principle.

----------------------

Lab 01 - Human genetics

Students formed groups of four people to work in the bioethics projects that we will develop during the quarter. Each group proposed one or more topics that are controversial and have a genetic basis. Topics were assigned to groups that proposed them, and in a few cases groups decided to choose a topic suggested by the instructor.

We also did exercise 01, on the basics of studying human genetics by using pedigree analyses. Students did a little mini-survey in their families to find out who had one of the alternative forms of expression of the following traits:

• Hitchhiker's thumb
• Tongue rolling
• Free/attached ear lobe
• Hand folding

Each student learned how to draw and interpret a basic pedigree using such traits in their families, and learned how to figure out the genotypes of each individual in the pedigree.

----------------------

WINTER QUARTER 2009-10Chapter 01 - A perspective on human genetics

We officially started the winter quarter today.

We went over the lecture syllabus and started covering chapter 1 in the book, 'A perspective on human genetics' (or 'a human perspective on genetics'; your choice). We talked about the very basics of what a gene is, what it does and how it is transmitted, and the different approaches to the study of genetics. All these pointing out to how important the study of genetics is in every day's life.

----------------------