Office: 142 Science Center; 646-3850; porterfi@stolaf.edu
Office Hours: M 1:30-3:00, Th 1:30-3:00 or by appointmentRequired Materials:
Russell, P. 2002 iGenetics. Pearson Education, Inc.
Porterfield, J. and K. Kandl. 2003. Biology 233 Intermediate Genetics
Laboratory Manual. St. Olaf College.
Click on the links below for information on lecture or lab (syllabus, readings, problems, downloads, etc.):
About Intermediate Genetics:
The field of genetics is one with many facets. People who call themselves "geneticists" may study the expression of individual genes, the interactions of many genes in forming a phenotype, the mutations that can cause genetic disorders, the ways genes are inherited, or the similarities and differences in the genes of diverse organisms. You will be touching on all of these topics and more this semester.The field of genetics draws from and affects many other fields. In our examination of classical transmission genetics you will use skills and ideas from statistics, and in exploring chromosome theory your knowledge of cell biology will be quite useful. Our study of DNA structure and function is peppered with biochemistry, and our examination of technological advances in genome manipulation requires knowledge in molecular biology.
Because of these intimate connections with other fields, the exposure to the material in this course will help you in your varied careers. Many of you are considering health professions, where so many are turning to the genomes of their patients and subjects for cures and therapies. Others of you may move on to graduate school in the natural sciences; a re-read of the paragraph above should suggest the importance of genetics in your academic future. Some of you may find yourselves working in industry, where diverse applications like biotechnology and pharmaceuticals benefit from the field of genetics.
Genetics is in the news. Think of some of the topics that have faced the global community recently - gene therapy, stem cell research, the human genome project, cloning, advances in assisted reproduction, embryo screening, genetically engineered products - the list goes on and on. Does the public accurately perceive the science behind the controversies? How does the media represent these topics?