Lahore University of Management Sciences

BIO221 –Genetics
(Fall 2018)

Instructor Dr. M .Tariq (lead), Aziz Mithani

Room No. 9-315A & 9-319A
Office Hours TBA, Mon & Tues 9am-10am
Email m.tariq@lums.edu.pk & aziz.mithani@lums.edu.pk
Telephone 8218 & 8397
Secretary/TA TBA
TA Office Hours TBA
Course URL (if any) No

Course Basics
Credit Hours 4
Lecture(s) Nbr of Lec(s) Per Week 2 Duration 2 hrs
Recitation (per week) Nbr of Rec (s) Per 0 Duration 0
Week
Lab (if any ) per week Nbr of Session(s) Per no Duration no
Week
Tutorial (per week) Nbr of Tut(s) Per 1 Duration 50 min
Week

Course Distribution
Core
Elective
Open for Student Category
Closed for Student Category
Core course for Biology major students
For any student
Sophomore Students (Biology)
None

COURSE DESCRIPTION
The intellectual framework of this course will introduce students to basic concepts in genetics and epigenetics. Both genetic and
epigenetic inheritance patterns will be introduced with an emphasis how they influence our development. Different modules will
cover classical genetics based on Mendelian laws and gene interactions which explain deviations from Mendel’s laws. In addition,
microbial genetics, human genetics and epigenetics modules will explain how genetic tools may be used to understand inheritance
of traits in different organisms. How genetics has helped us understanding molecular and biochemical pathways of development is
an important subject of this course. Analysis of mutagenic traits at individual as well as population level will also be covered. The
course outline is divided into 9 modules including presentations by the students at the end of course.

COURSE PREREQUISITE(S)

• None

COURSE OBJECTIVES
• To introduce the basic concepts in genetics and epigenetics inheritance patterns and how they influence our
development.
• How monogenic and multigenic traits are analyzed.
• To understand how biological function can be explored using various genetic and epigenetic approaches.
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Learning Outcomes
At the end of course students must be able to understand:
• Inheritance of monogenic and multigenic traits.
• How different genetic pathways may interact and affect development, how genotypes- phenotypes are linked
• How genetic analysis differs among microbes, fruit flies and human.
• Research articles about cutting edge genetic and epigenetic areas of research
Grading Breakup and Policy

Assignment(s): 10% (3-5 Assignments)

Home Work:
Quiz(s): 5% (3-5 Quizzes)
Class Participation:
Attendance:
Exam1: 20%
Exam2: 20%
Exam3: 20%
Exam4: 20%
Presentations: 5%

Examination Detail

Yes/No: Yes
Combine Separate: Combine
Midterm
Duration: 3hours
Exam
Preferred Date:
Exam Specifications:

Yes/No: Yes
Combine Separate: Combine
Final Exam
Duration: 3 hours
Exam Specifications:

COURSE OVERVIEW
Recommended Objectives/
Lecture Topics
Readings Application
Classical genetics: Introduction to genetics
Basic concepts of genetics covering
and epigenetic, Mendelian genetics,
how genes and chromosome were
chromosomal theory of inheritance, Patterns
discovered and how they are inherited
of autosomal and sex chromosome
in next generations. How genotype
1-5 inheritance, test cross, back cross, allele, Chapter 2, 3 4 and 6: Introduction to
can be correlated to phenotype and
(M. Tariq) homozygote , heterozygote dominant trait, genetic Analysis by Griffiths et al.,
how genetic interactions can be
recessive trait, genotype and phenotype,
studied
Genetic Linkage and Chromosome mapping,
Recombination Genotype to phenotype,
complementation, epistasis,
Exam 1
Chapter13 and 14: Introduction to To introduce different type of
Mutagens, mutations, DNA Repair:
6-9 Genetic Analysis by Griffiths et al., Mutagens which are the sole source
Transposons, Types of mutations, molecular
(M. Tariq) of pathogenic mutations and how
basis of mutations, Mechanism of DNA
DNA repair mechanism works to
Repair
proof read these mutations
Microbial Genetics: conjugation, Chapter 5 : Introduction to Genetic
10-13
transformation, transduction and Analysis by Griffiths et al.,
(M. Tariq)
bacteriophage genetics
Exam 2
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Human genetics: Mendelian pedigee patterns,
Autosomal and Sex linked patterns of
14-15 inheritance,cytoplasmic inheritance,
(M. Tariq) Markers(RFLPs, STRs, SNPs etc, Genetic
Mapping of Mendelian characters, Lod score
Analysis
Epigenetics: Chromatin structure and nuclear
organization, transcription machinery and
chromatin remodeling, euchromatin and
hetrochromatin, position effect variegation,
16-20
heritable gene silencing chromatin
(M. Tariq)
modifications and epigenetic informations,
non coding RNAs, X chromosome
inactivation, dosage compensation, cellular
memory and imprinting
Exam 3
Genomics and transgenics: Forward
21-22
genetics, reverse genetics , gene isolation and
(M. Tariq)
manipulation
Population genetics: Hardy Weinberg
equilibrium, factors effecting genotypic and
23-25
allelic frequency, inbreeding/assortative
(Aziz Mithani)
meting, mutation Recombination, Migration,
Selection and Genetic Drift
Quantitative genetics: Inheritance of
complex traits, causes of variation, continuous
26-28
verses discontinuous traits, genotype and
(Aziz Mithani)
phenotype distribution, Heritability, selection,
QTL analysis
Exam 4
Chapter 3 and 6: An introduction to
Human Molecular Genetics by Jack J
Pasternak
Chapter 2: Introduction to genetic
Analysis by Griffiths et al.,
Chapter 10: Introduction to Genetic
Analysis by Griffiths et al.,
Chapter 11: Introduction to Genetic
Analysis by Griffiths et al.,
Chapter 19: Introduction to Genetic
Analysis by Griffiths et al.,
Chapter 20: Introduction to Genetic
Analysis by Griffiths et al.,
How Mendelian traits can be traced
in humans and how they can be
mapped and studied in humans in
contrast to model organisms e.g. pea
plant and Drosophila melanogaster
To familiarize the students with
fundamental concepts in the area of
epigenetics covering histone
modifications, cell memory and X
chromosome inactivation which are
important in normal development
Students will be introduced to
different approaches which can be
used to isolate and study gene at the
molecular level.
To get familiarize with Genetic
composition of a population and how
different factors are involved to
maintain the genetic composition of
particular population
What is the difference between
discontinuous traits which are under
control of genes and continuous
traits which are the results of
interaction of environment and genes.
How these traits can be studied and
how multiple genes which are
involved in their development can be
identified.

Textbook(s)/Supplementary Readings
I. Introduction to Genetic Analysis by Griffiths, Wesler, Lewontin, Gelbart, Suzuki, Miller (eighth edition): Photocopies of
selected chapters
II. Chromatin and Gene Regulation: Molecular mechanisms in epigenetics by Brian M. Turner: Photocopies of selected
chapters.
III. Genetics: Analysis of genes and genomes (sixth edition) by Daniel L. Hartl and Elizabeth W. Jones: Photocopies of
selected chapters
IV. Genetics by Monroe W. Strickberger (3rd edition). Photocopies of selected chapters
V. An introduction to Human Molecular Genetics. Jack J Pasternak 2nd Edition.(Selected chapters)