Course format: Lecture: 2:30P-3:45P, TR, JH 124, plus one 50-minute
collaborative learning group per week (times to be arraned after first
lecture).

Requirements: None.

Course description: Topic: New Genetics-New Choices: From Designer
Genes to Designer Babies. The genetics revolution of the late 20th
Century has presented us with a number of new genetics dilemmas in the
current century. Should we clone humans? Should gene therapy be used
to "cure" genetic disorders such as sickle cell anemia or cystic
fibrosis? Are genetically engineered crops superior to traditional
crops? What impact will advances in genetics have upon our society?
These are some of the issues that we will explore in this course.

This course will have a two-fold focus. First, we will introduce
students to the basic concepts of human genetics, discuss a number of
human genetic disorders and how they arise, and examine the impact
that genetic engineering and recombinant DNA technology are having on
the diagnosis, treatment and possible cure of some of these disorders.

Second, we will consider some of the legal and bio-ethical issues
arising as a result of the rapid explosion of gentic technology. We
will discuss a variety of topics, including genetic modification of
food crops, the implications of gene therapy, "designer babies",
cloning of humans, and genetic privacy.

Required text: Michael R. Cummings, 2003. "Human Heredity: Principles
and Issues", sixth edition. Published by Brooks/Cole.

Weekly assignments: Textbook readings plus supplemental reading
available online. Students will also participate in one 50-minute
collaborative learning group per week (time to be arranged after the
course begins), and complete one worksheet per week.

Exams/papers: Three one-hour exams plus one comprehensive final exam.
Students will also complete one genetics worksheet per week.