Welcome to the home page for Genome 371, Autumn 2024!

 

For now I'll just address a few frequently asked questions. If you have other questions about the class, please stay tuned -- I'll be adding more FAQs to the list in the coming weeks and months. Also, I'll be sending out an info email in late summer/early fall.

If you are thinking of registering for this class, please check the exam dates below for conflicts first! If you have a schedule conflict with these dates, you should not sign up for this class unless you have a valid excuse as listed below.

Exam dates and conflicts policy

Yes, there is a final exam! The overall grade will be based on three in-person exams (two midterm exams and a final exam) as well as three graded homework problem sets (not to be confused with non-graded practice problems, which I will also be posting periodically).

Please avoid scheduling conflicts with these dates. There are only a few situations when we allow students to take the exams at a different time than scheduled (usually, one or two days early):

Airline reservations for reasons other than those listed above do not constitute a valid excuse.

Other FAQ

Can I get an add code for this class?

Is there a waiting list to get into the class?

What's this class about anyway? Is there a syllabus I can look at?

Do I need a textbook?

 

Can I get an add code for this class?

We don't give out add codes. For now, keep an eye on the registration page--in past years, 15-20% of students who originally signed up in May had dropped the class by September, so we expect that there will be spaces opening up between May and the end of September. UW's Notify service can help. If you are still unable to get in, you should fill out an online form that I will post at that time to let us know that you wish to be added on a space-available basis (assuming no schedule conflicts and that your pre-reqs are in order). You should also come to the first lecture (12:30 pm Friday September 27).

If you have taken Genome 361 or 371 previously, you will not be able to register online for this class. You will need to come to the first lecture (see above). Be aware, though, that students who have not taken Genome 361 or 371 previously will have priority over those who have taken one of those courses previously.

Is there a waiting list to get into the class?

We don't keep a waiting list. As mentioned above, keep your eye on the registration page; if you are unable to register but wish to get in, you should fill out the online form and come to the first lecture (see above).

What's this class about anyway? Is there a syllabus I can look at?

The syllabus isn't ready yet -- I'll post one a little before the quarter starts, probably in mid-September. In general terms, we will focus on how one can use genetics and genomics to understand biological processes or structures. Along the way, we will look at patterns of inheritance (how inheritance works, how phenotype is determined by genes), mutant analysis, and genomics (what we can learn by studying whole genomes), with an emphasis on how genetics can be used to understand the basis of inherited diseases.

Do I need a textbook?

There is no textbook requirement for this course—that's mainly because we haven't been able to find textbooks that adequately cover the material we want to cover in this class. So, all you need are the lecture and quiz section material with occasional extra reading in the form of handouts. Some students are more comfortable with a textbook to fall back on, so if you would like to have a textbook for reference, any of the following textbooks will do. All of these texts will be placed on reserve in the Odegaard Undergraduate library under this course listing:

There are also free online textbooks available. Finding specific topics in the online books is a bit of a hassle, but they are free. Once classes start, I will periodically post links to relevant sections in these online textbooks.