Description

This course explores fundamental concepts in classical and molecular genetics. We will examine how studies in genetic model organisms (including budding yeast, Drosophila, and C. elegans) have yielded remarkable insight into a host of biological mechanisms, including cell-signaling pathways, animal development, and gene regulation. Special emphasis will be placed on how geneticists design and interpret their studies. The semester will cover strategies ranging from the classical (screens, selection, complementation, and conditional mutants) to the modern approaches enabled by the genomic revolution (genetic engineering, gene misexpression, and genome-wide association studies).