2006 Fall Term
BIOLOGY 49S - First-Year Seminar: Biotech & The New Genetics
Instructor: Grunwald
The convergence of biology, engineering, and information science in the last quarter of the twentieth century has heralded what some have called the "Biotech Century". From the sequencing of the human genome to international controversies over genetically-modified "Frankenfood", the gene has replaced the atom as the new symbol of the promise and the threat. Is the new genetics the source of technological wonders or ecological and social disaster? Huch of this promise and threat is real, and how much is hype?
BIOLOGY 118 - Genetics and Molecular Biology
Instructor: Hill and Mitchell-Olds
Explores flow of information from gene to phenotype. Social implications of modern genetic analysis and the genomic revolution. Topics include: organization and stability of genomes from bacteria to higher vertebrates (humans), conversion of the genetic code into a functioning organism, classical transmission (Mendelian) genetics and its relevance to human hereditary disorders, content of the genome and social implications of genetic knowledge including issues of genetic privacy, eugenics, genetically modified organism, and cloning. Prerequisite: Chemistry 22L or equivalent.
BIOLOGY 122 - Population Genetics
Instructor: Uyenoyama
Use of genetic sequence analysis to examine aspects of natural populations of humans and other organisms in the past and present. Topics include molecular phylogenetics; the origin, maintenance, and loss of major features of evolution; the evolutionary process at the molecular level; reconstruction of human origins and paleohistory; and genetic information in forensic studies. Prerequisite: Biology 25L or equivalent.
BIOLOGY 195S* - Special Topics: Genomes, Biology, Medicine
Instructor: Willard
BIOLOGY 205LS - EXP DEV AND MOL GENETICS
Instructor: Staff
Experimental approaches in development and genetics using animal and plant models. Laboratory training in molecular genetics, immunochemistry, microscopy, protein chemistry, and genetic screening. Experiments include immunochemical localization, in situ hybridization, polymerase chain reaction, genetic screening, embryo micromanipulation, microscopic imaging, and mutant analysis. Prerequisite: Biology 118; recommended, prior or concurrent registration in Biology 119.
BIOLOGY 283/ CELLBIO 283 - Developmental Genetics
Instructors: Fehon, Kirby, Klingensmith, McClay and Wharton
Half-semester mini-course targeted to first year graduate students in the Biological Sciences. Taught sequentially in the Fall semester with Biology 282. Focuses on genetic approaches to solve mechanistic problems of development. Emphasis is on model organisms, mainly Drosophilia, C. elegans, mouse and zebrafish, where genomics, mutations, gene modifiers, epistasis analysis, gene knockouts, and transgenesis, plus many other genetic approaches have yielded important insights into the differentiation of cell and the development of complex organisms. Cross-listed with Biology 283.
BME 265.09 - Advanced Topics: MODEL AND ENGIN GENE CIRCUITS
Instructor: Staff
Advanced subjects related to programs within biomedical engineering tailored to fit the requirements of a small group. Consent of instructor required.
CBB 220 - Genome Tools and Technologies
Instructor: Staff
This course introduces the laboratory and computational methodologies for genetic and protein sequencing, mapping and expression measurement.
CBB 231/ COMPSCI 261 - Computational Biology of Gene Regulation
Instructor: Ohler
Application of machine learning to problems in computational molecular biology. Focus on cukaryotic genes and gene regulation, and on probabilistic approaches, e.g. Hidden Markov models. Detection of coding and non-coding genes; RNA structure prediction; Models for regulatory elements and regions, including post-transcriptional gene regulation; Comparative Genomics; Regulatory Networks. Lectures and discussions of primary literature. Problem sets focusing on practical aspects and algorithm implementation. Prerequisites: basic probability theory and statistics (STA 213 or equiv.), basic molecular biology (BIO 118 or equiv.), basic knowledge of program design and implementation. Alternatively, consent of instructor.
CBB 241 - Statistical Genetics
Instructor: Hauser & Weale
Mechanisms, probability models and statistical analysis in examples of classical and population genetics, aimed at covering the basic quantitative concepts and tools for biological scientists. This module will serve as a primer in basic statistics for genomics, also involving computing and computation using standard languages.
COMPSCI 4G* - Intro Programming with Genomics
Instructor: Astrachan
Problem-solving techniques using a computer, top-down decomposition and object-oriented solution methodologies, introduction to programming in the Java language, introduction to toolkits for programming genomics example such as BioJava and BioPerl, simple CGI programming, introduction to dynamic programming, web protocols. Contributions of computational techniques to the human genome project and genomics. Technical and social implications of genomics and genome studies made possible by advances in algorithms, computational methods, and computational models. (Not open to students who have taken Computer Science 6 or 6X.)
FOCUS 105* - Special Topics in Focus - "Genome Revolution"
Instructor: O'Daniel
Forum for discussing and bridging the varied interdisciplinary issues that arise within the individual Focus Program seminars. May include group discussion, readings, guest lectures, film viewings, and other activities. Open only to participants in the Focus Program. Pass/Fail grading only.
HISTORY 105S.F65/ PUBPOL 195S.F65* - Special Topics: SOCIAL & POL HIST GENOMICS
Instructor: Cook-Deegan
Open only to first-year FOCUS students. Current list of courses available in FOCUS Program Brochure; website at http://pmac-www.aas.duke. edu/focus.
RELIGION 166S.F08* - AM. PROTES. & NATL IDENTITY
Instructor: Hall
Topics vary from semester to semester. Open only to students in the FOCUS Program
WRITING 20 - BEYOND GENES*
Instructor: Hall
Although often linked to genetics, concepts such as sexuality, race, beauty and illness are also shaped by cultural, religious and/or political values that prescribe forms of social interaction. In this course, we will read and write about the physical body as a locus for social meaning. In the process of examining cross-cultural rituals, procedures and beliefs surrounding the body, you will compose short weekly essays focusing on different aspects of academic writing (i.e., acknowledging sources, delineating a claim, supporting an argument). These essays will help you build both a theoretical background on the "social body" and a repertoire of writing skills that you will use to produce two longer projects.
*Courses open to Focus students only.