Seminar: The course is seminar-based and requires that all students have read the assigned readings. I am hoping that the class periods will be spent half on the seminar, half on discussion. These assignments are designed to get you to use original scientific reports and review articles to describe and critique an unfolding paradigm. Try to draw the “big picture” while reinforcing your interpretations using specific details from the readings. In essence, I want you to deliver a comprehensive review seminar, and it should cover all of the topics listed below for the Web assignment. Use the assigned articles as a starting point. Each seminar will also have designated respondents who will have read the papers closely, and will be responsible for kicking off the discussion/questions.
Synopsis: The first assignment requires that you
provide a one or two page study sheet for your colleagues that summarizes
your topic and will be handed out in the first few weeks. Using the
same material, following your seminar, utilize comments from your colleagues
to write a slightly more complete synopsis (a Word document with figures
that I can transfer to a webpage) describing the mutation under the following
headings:
Gene name:
Gene family:
Syndrome(s) Name:
Syndrome description:
Summary of Affected cells/tissues/organs:
Brief history: (of how it was identified and characterized)
Molecular Genetics: (specifics of gene family, structure,
mutation at the molecular level - ie; mis-sense? Tri-nucleotide repeat?
A combination thereof)
Gene function/phenotype:
Additional Comments/speculations:
References/links:
Your name
These will be mounted on the server for your peers to enjoy and use.
Grant proposal Option: Identify a human mutation for which no gene has yet been identified, and write a 5 page single-spaced proposal divided up into the following sections (references do not count as one of the pages, but diagrams - strongly encouraged do):
Summary Paragraph:
Background:
Objectives (short term, long term):
Proposed Research:
Grant proposals walk a delicate line of providing enough information for a well-informed scientist to understand the nuts and bolts, without going into boring detail. You need to outline the objects briefly and concisely, and to outline the proposed research in convincing specific technical detail. Allow for the possibility of a specific approach not working and where possible, define what you will do to work around that problem.
Submit both a paper and an electronic copy they may be checked on Turnitin.com.
Late/Missed Assignment Policy:
Late submission of the written assignments (webpage and grant proposal) will result in a penalty of one mark lost per day. There will be no written make-up for the final exam. In exceptional cases, where legitimate cause is documented, an exam will be conducted orally in Rm 215, Biological Sciences at a time to be determined by the instructor.
Grading scale as follows:
A+ 93-100%
A 86-92%
A- 80-84
B+ 77-79
B 74-76
B- 70-73
C+ 67-69
C 64-66
C- 60-63
D+ 57-59
D 54-56
D- 50-53
Fail Below 50%