Texas A&M University Graduate Catalog

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Course Descriptions

Intercollegiate Faculty in Genetics

D. L. Adelson, R. Aramayo, D. Bell-Pedersen, M. J. Benedik, L. R. Bernstein, F. J. Betran, J. W. Bickham, B. Binas, M. Bryk, D. L. Busbee, Z. J. Chen, B. P. Chowdhary, C. J. Coates, A. I. Cognato, N. D. Cohen, E. W.Collisson, K. M. Credille, J. Cruz-Reyes, S. Datta, J. N. Derr, D.J. Ebbole, C. G. Elsik, J. W. Erickson, R. Fan, A. C. R.Ficht, T. A. Ficht, R. H. Finnell, L. R. Garcia, C. A. Gill, J. R.Gold, S. S. Golden, C. F. Gonzalez, J. H. Gould, I. F. Greenbaum, L. A. Guarino, T. C. Hall, A. D. Herring, R. L. Honeycutt, J. C. Hu, G. M. Ihler, N. H. Ing, Y. W. Jiang, J. S. Johnston, G. M. Kapler (Chair), M. P. Kladde, R. J. Kohel, G. R. Kunkel, J. L. Leibowitz, M. Liu, C. Loopstra, K. A. Maggert, C. W. Magill, J. M.Magill, T. D. McKnight, J. C. Miller, Jr., J. E. Mullet, K. E. Murphy, W. J. Murphy, W. D. Park, S. L. Payne, A. E. Pepper, B. D. Perkins, D. O.Peterson, M. Polymenis, H. J. Price, B. B. Riley, S. H. Safe, J. E. Samuel, F. Schroeder, D. E. Shippen, D. A. Siegele, J. T. Skare, L. C. Skow, C. W. Smith, T. E. Spencer, D. M. Stelly, M. D.Summers, J. W. Templeton, R. M. Tsolis, J. P.vanBuijtenen, R. D. Wells, C. J. Welsh, J. R. Wild, H. H. Wilkinson, V. G. Wilson, J. E. Womack, H. Zhang, G. Zhu, K. Zhu-Salzman

Genetics, the science of heredity and variation, occupies a central position in biology. Many of the recent significant research developments in the life sciences have occurred in this dynamic discipline. Multiple opportunities exist for the further development of genetic theory and for the application of genetic principles to improve animal and plant species.

The graduate program in genetics is supervised by the faculty of genetics, which is composed of faculty from several departments and colleges whose training, teaching and research is in genetics. Supporting course work is available in such fields as biochemistry, computer science, cytology, molecular biology, pathology, physiology and statistics.

Research areas that may be pursued include biochemical genetics, cytogenetics, developmental genetics, immunogenetics, molecular genetics, population genetics, quantitative genetics, somatic cell genetics, forest genetics, animal breeding and plant breeding. Commonly used experimental organisms include bacteria, viruses and fungi, and many species of higher plants and animals.

Admission to the genetics graduate program requires approval by both the faculty of genetics and a participating academic department. Graduate assistantships and fellowships are available from the faculty of genetics and from individual departments.

The language requirement for students in the genetics program is determined by their administrative department.

Genetics
(GENE)

603. Genetics. (4-0). Credit 4.

Development of fundamental concepts related to the structure, function, organization, transmission and distribution of genetic material. Prerequisite: GENE301.

606. Quantitative Phylogenetics. (2-3). Credit 3.

Designed to provide students with the theory and tools required for inference of phylogenetic (evolutionary) relationships among biological taxa using various types of comparative data including morphological characters, biochemical and molecular characters, and DNA sequences; hands-on analysis of data using contemporary tools. Prerequisite: Entomology 601 or approval of instructor. Cross-listed with ENTO 606.

612. Population Genetics. (3-0). Credit 3.

Biological approach to genetic characteristics of populations dealing with genetic equilibrium, allelic variation, determination of genetic variation in populations, effects of mating systems, selection, mutation and drift on population parameters. Prerequisites: GENE 603; STAT 651.

613. Quantitative Genetics I. (3-0). Credit 3.

Quantitative genetics concepts particularly dealing with partitioning of phenotypic variance into genetic and environmental components, selection response, effects of systems of mating, genetic covariance and threshold effects. Prerequisites: GENE 612; STAT 652.

614. Maximum Likelihood Estimation of Genetics. (3-0). Credit 3.

Theoretical and analytical approaches to the application of maximum likelihood for the estimation of parameters under linear and nonlinear models; single and polygene genetic models including Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, linkage analysis and quantitative trait loci detection. Prerequisites: GENE 603; STAT 651; STAT 652 or 601. Cross-listed with ANSC 614.

620. Cytogenetics. (3-0). Credit 3.

Examination and analysis of variation in chromosome structure, behavior and number; developmental and evolutionary effects of this variation. Prerequisite: GENE 603.

626. Analyses of Gene Expression. (1-3). Credit 2.

Proficiency in handling DNA and RNA gained during exercises used routinely in analyses of gene expression; RNA preparation and analysis on Northern blots; in vitro transcription and polyacrylamide gel analysis of nucleic acids; sub-cloning and mRNA quantitation using polymerase chain reaction. Prerequisites: GENE 450 or approval of instructor; radiation safety training. Cross-listed with ANSC 626.

631. Biochemical Genetics. (3-0). Credit 3.

Genetic control of cellular metabolism. Mechanism of gene action; gene-enzyme relationships; regulation of gene expression; structure and organization of genomes; biochemical manipulation and characterization of genetic molecules. Prerequisite: GENE 431 or BICH 431; BICH 603. Cross-listed with BICH 631.

643. Quantitative Genetics and Plant Breeding. (3-0). Credit 3.

Applied aspects of quantitative genetics in plant breeding; examination of methodologies to analyze quantitative variation in crop species; genetic phenomena (inbreeding heterosis and epistasis); quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping and marker-assisted selection (MAS); genotype by environment interaction, heritability, multiple traits and selection theory with implication in plant breeding. Prerequisites: GENE 613; AGRO 641; STAT 619 and 652. Cross-listed with AGRO 643.

654. Analysis of Complex Genomes. (3-0). Credit 3.

History and current status of genetic and molecular analysis of higher eukaryotic genomes; coverage of techniques for dissection of genomes into manageable parts; investigations in genetics, breeding and evolution; emphasis on quantitative inheritance, genetic mapping, physical mapping, map-based cloning, with examples drawn from a wide range of organisms. Prerequisite: GENE 603. Cross-listed with AGRO 654 and MEPS 654.

655. Analysis of Complex Genomes--Lab. (0-7). Credit 3.

Laboratory methods in molecular genetic techniques for genetic mapping, physical mapping, and map-based cloning of both qualitative and quantitative phenotypes. Prerequisites: Concurrent registration in GENE 654 and approval of instructor. Cross-listed with AGRO 655 and MEPS 655.

662. Eukaryotic Transcription. (1-0). Credit 1.

Intensive short course in molecular mechanisms of eukaryotic transcription and its regulation. Prerequisite: GENE 631 or BICH 631 or approval of instructor. Cross-listed with BICH 662.

673. Gene Expression. (1-0). Credit 1.

Oral presentations and discussions related to the biochemistry and molecular biology of gene expression in animal, plant, and microbial systems. Course may be repeated for credit up to 12 times. To be taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Prerequisite: Graduate classification in biochemistry or genetics or approval of instructor. Cross-listed with BICH 673.

681. Seminar. (1-0). Credit 1.

Reports and discussions of topics of current importance in genetics; reports to be prepared and presented by graduate students enrolled in course.

685. Directed Studies. Credit 1 to 4 each semester.

Individual problems or research not pertaining to thesis or dissertation. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.

689. Special Topics in... Credit 1 to 4.

Selected topics in an identified area of genetics. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.

691. Research. Credit 1 or more each semester.

Prerequisite: GENE 603.

697. Teaching Genetics Labs. (1-0). Credit 1.

Theory and practical aspects of teaching genetics labs, with emphasis on content, grading, instructional methods and practical aspects of genetics labs. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: Graduate classification in genetics; appointment as a TA for genetics labs.