BSCI 410 
Molecular Genetics 
Fall 2008  

This page is being updated now for 2008.

This page concerns section 0101, taught by Steve Mount, only. Section 0201 (Quimby) is separate.

Blackboard is used for grades, and may also be used for discussions and announcements. Be sure to check it from time to time.

Meetings: Tue./Thu. 11:00 in PBS 1250 Sept. 2 through Dec. 11, 2008. We will not meet on Sept. 30, Oct. 7, Oct. 9 or Nov. 27.

Exam dates: Oct. 2, Nov. 6, Dec. 4 and Dec. 15 (the final exam, at 8 a.m.).

Grades: 80% of your grade will be based on three hour exams and a final. 20% of your grade will be based on homework. Exam grades are normalized in order to weigh all exams equally and rank students in the class fairly, but your final letter grade will be based on how well you do individually.

Texts and readings: One required and others recommended.
The primary text will be Hartwell et. al, Genetics: From Genes to Genomes, 3rd edition.
Additional useful texts are listed on the texts page.
- Additional readings from the literature or available on the internet may be assigned and will be made available through blackboard or Connotea. All readings will be noted on the syllabus, which will be updated through the semester.
- Web access will be required for some homework assignments.

Lectures: I will post lectures on the syllabus page in .ppt format soon after they are given. Drafts based on last year's lectures are posted there prior to the lecture, and further revisions may be posted after the lecture. The PowerPoint is not a substitute for the lecture. Not all information is on the slides. I often make substantial changes right up until the last minute, and some of the content of any given presentation may not be used.

Blackboard is used for the posting of grades and possibly some other things (discussions, announcements or chat (online "office hours")). However, the course web pages (here) will be used for posting materials. Especially important announcments (such as class cancellations) will also be sent by email (using bcc) to a list. Please make sure that your official University email address (listed on the LDAP Directory) is an address at which you actually read mail. If it isn't, you can make changes through Testudo. Special note: we find that email sent to AOL accounts is often delayed, or never delivered at all, and we encourage you to find a more reliable alternative if you are using AOL (we can send mail to multiple accounts if you ask us to).

Office Hours: 4:30-6 on Monday, in my office (2109 HJP), but if you plan to come, please let me know so that I can expect you (or tell you if I can't make it that week). In addition, the TA will be available after graded material is handed back so that you will have chance to discuss the grading of your assignments. Also, I am happy to answer questions posed by email. In many cases, answers to email questions will also be posted, which allows me to share them with the entire class.

Advice from last year's students. I asked the students who did best in the class to share how they prepared for exams.

Genetics in the news. These are exciting times for genetics and genomics; I will occasionally post links to relevant news and articles on Connotea. Many of these are relevant to topics covered in this course, but these will not be covered on the exam unless presented in class.