This course is an introduction to Genomics. Students will learn about the structure of genomes, whole-genome biology, and genome evolution. Students will also learn about new and rapidly changing technologies that explore genome functions, such as genome-wide RNA expression by microarray and direct sequencing. We will discuss the relatively brief history of this field, and how the technological developments of recent years are changing the way we look at genomes and organisms, including ethical and medical issues raised by the possibility of individualized genomics.

In the laboratory section, students will perform microarray experiments to look at RNA changes in different environmental conditions and use DNA barcoding to look at species identification. Students will explore bioinformatics databases and learn how to extract and analyze genomic information, and they will apply the skills learned to data generated from their own microarray experiments.

Offered: Alternating Spring

Three hours lecture, three hours lab