Course

Genetics

Faculty
Science & Technology
Department
Biology
Course code
BIOL 3205
Credits
5.00
Semester length
15 weeks
Max class size
28
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Lab
Tutorial
Typically offered
To be determined

Overview

Course description
This course is an introduction to the study of genetics. Topics covered include the physical and chemical basis of heredity, genetic analysis in eukaryotes, prokaryotes and viruses, mutation, population genetics and evolution
Course content

Mechanics of Inheritance

  • mitosis
  • meiosis
  • life cycles
  • crossing-over

 Mendelian Inheritance

  • monohybrid inheritance and the Law of Segregation
  • dihybrid inheritance and the Law of Independent Assortment
  • allelic relationships
  • use of testcrosses

Probability and Statistics

  • solving genetic problems using probability rules
  • use of the Chi Square test

Non-Mendelian Inheritance

  • linkage
  • sex-linked inheritance
  • sex-influenced inheritance
  • sex-limited inheritance
  • gene interactions (including epistasis, complementation, duplicate genes)
  • multiple allelism
  • multigenic inheritance
  • inheritance of quantitative (multifactorial) traits
  • extra-chromosomal inheritance

Chromosome Mapping in Eukaryotes

  • 2 point testcross
  • 3 point testcross

Sex Determination and Sex Differentiation

  • the XY system
  • the ZW system
  • the XO system
  • the haplo-diploid system

Dosage Compensation

Changes in Chromosome Number

  • aneuploidy
  • polyploidy

Changes in Chromosome Structure

  • duplication
  • deletion
  • inversion
  • translocations (pericentric and paracentric)

Gene Mutation and Mutagenesis

Nucleic Acid Structure and Replication

Protein Synthesis

  • transcription
  • translation

Control of Gene Expression

  • in prokaryotes
  • in eukaryotes

Microbial Genetics

  • prototrophs and auxotrophs
  • replica plating
  • transformation, transduction and conjugation
  • gene mapping

Viral Genetics

  • DNA Viruses
  • retroviruses

Transposable Elements

  • DNA transposons
  • retrotransposons

Population Genetics and Evolution

  • Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium
  • effects of genetic drift and selection

Laboratory Exercises

  • mitosis in onion roots
  • chi square (corn crosses)
  • gene mapping in Drosophila
  • polytene chromosomes
  • plant viruses
  • population genetics (models of drift and selection; field study)
Learning activities

Methods of instruction for this course include some or all of the following:

  • Instructor tutoring and lectures
  • Discussion groups
  • Practical applications and lab exercises
  • Self-study via print or online materials
  • Reading and problem solving assignments

 

Means of assessment

Evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. Evaluation will be based on the following:

Assignments and tests 

 10-20%
Oral presentation 0-5%
Midterm exams (2) 25-35%
Final comprehensive exam 25-35%
Lab reports and lab quizzes 25-30%
Total 100%

Note: A student who achieves less than 50% in either the lecture or laboratory portion of the course will earn a maximum P grade.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this course, the successful student will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the principles of classical and modern genetics, including being able to:

  1. Describe the physical basis of heredity.
  2. Describe the experimental basis of Mendelian inheritance.
  3. Describe sex-determining mechanisms in a wide variety of organisms.
  4. Describe non-Mendelian inheritance, including linkage, sex-linkage, sex-influenced inheritance, sex-limited inheritance, multiple allelism, polygenic inheritance, and extra-chromosomal inheritance.
  5. Interpret pedigrees to determine modes of inheritance of genetic anomalies in humans.
  6. Derive chromosome maps by a variety of techniques, including the analysis of:
    • testcross data in higher organisms
    • conjugation, transduction and transformation experiments in bacteria
  7. Describe the cytological and biochemical basis of mutation and mutagenesis.
  8. Describe the structure, replication, and functions of nucleic acids.
  9. Describe the process of protein synthesis and the control of protein synthesis in bacteria and in higher organisms.
  10. Describe the genetic control of metabolism.
  11. Describe the genetics of populations, including Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, genetic drift, the effects of selection on allele frequencies and the evolutionary implications of population genetics.
  12. Perform and interpret genetic experiments with a variety of organisms.
  13. Describe the genetic basis of evolutionary theory.
  14. Use general principles of genetics to discuss current issues.
Textbook materials

Consult the Douglas College Bookstore for the latest required textbooks and materials. Example textbooks and materials may include:

Klug, WS, Cummings, MR, Spencer, CA, Palladino, MA, and Killina, DJ. (2019). Concepts of Genetics, (current edition). Pearson Education, USA.

Requisites

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers to Other Institutions

Below are current transfer agreements from Douglas College to other institutions for the current course guidelines only. For a full list of transfer details and archived courses, please see the BC Transfer Guide.

Institution Transfer details for BIOL 3205
Alexander College (ALEX) ALEX BIOL 203 (3) & ALEX BIOL 2XX (1)
Camosun College (CAMO) CAMO BIOL 232 (3)
Capilano University (CAPU) CAPU BIOL 200 (3)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU BIOL 2320 (4)
Langara College (LANG) LANG BIOL 2330 (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) DOUG BIOL 3205 (5) & DOUG BIOL 3700 (3) = SFU BISC 202 (3) & SFU BISC 2XX (2) & SFU BISC 300 (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU BISC 202 (3) & SFU BISC 2XX (2)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU BIOL 2340 (3)
Trinity Western University (TWU) TWU BIOL 371 (3)
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) UBCO BIOL_O 265 (3)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) UBCV BIOL_V 234 (3)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC BIOL 210 (3)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV BIO 220 (4)
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC BIOL 230 (1.5)
Vancouver Island University (VIU) VIU BIOL 212 (3)

Course Offerings

Fall 2025

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
28
Currently enrolled
28
Remaining seats:
0
On waitlist
6
Building
New Westminster - South Bldg.
Room
S1812
Times:
Start Time
10:30
-
End Time
12:20
Section notes

BIOL 3205 001 Students must also register in either BIOL 3205 L01 or BIOL 3205 L02.