Investigations in Genetics

The field of genetics—the study of genes, genetic variation, and heredity—has rapidly progressed within this last century, effectively changing and shaping our understanding of a range of  different fields. Understanding genetics provides a framework for thinking about other fields, such as biology, medicine, and evolution. In this course, we will provide an interdisciplinary approach to understand many subjects in which genetics plays a fundamental role. Students will  approach questions such as: What role does genetic mutation and regulation play in disease manifestation? How can we understand the composition of the microbiome, and what insight it can provide regarding disease states? How do we design experiments using genetic technologies to begin to answer fundamental biological questions? This course will provide insight into the role of genetics in our everyday life, as well as the scientific details that lie beneath it.