1420 Genetics/-Biotechnology Center, 425-G Henry Mall, Madison, WI 53706-1580; 608/262-1069; www.genetics.wisc.edu
Professors Culbertson (chair), Anderson, Blattner, Carroll, Doebley, Dove, Engels, Ganetzky, Hoffmann, Kessel, Kimble, Kung, Laughon, Masson, Pauli, Schwartz, Sondel, Vierstra, Wolff, Yin; Associate Professors Colley, Pelegri, Prolla; Assistant Professors Gasch, Ikeda, Skop, Sun; Adjunct Professor Temin
This department offers an undergraduate major under the Natural Sciences degree program. Students completing the major are certified for the Bachelor of Science-Natural Sciences degree. The basic requirements include: two years of chemistry, one year of physics, one year of general biology and Genetics 466 or two years of Biocore, one year of calculus, and introductory bacteriology. The major requirements include: advanced genetics, introductory biochemistry, and 12 credits of genetics and genetics-related courses chosen from an approved list. Students are strongly encouraged to gain individual laboratory experience in a research lab.
Genetics is a bachelor's program for students seeking a broad knowledge of heredity in relation to animal and plant breeding, and for students preparing for teaching and research in genetics. A B.S. degree in genetics prepares students for many jobs in the growing biotechnology industry. Some of these jobs are in research and technical support, technical writing, quality control, assay development, and sales or marketing.
Many graduates continue their education by pursuing an advanced degree. Genetics students are competitive for admission to medical schools, veterinary schools, and graduate schools throughout the country. Graduate students may elect a Ph.D. program to prepare for careers in research, academia, and industry. Others may elect an M.S. program for a career in genetic counseling.
Because of the diversity and quantity of research activity on the Madison campus, the discipline of genetics provides an extraordinary number and range of opportunities for undergraduate majors to gain experience in research, a virtual prerequisite for admission to the top graduate programs in the biological sciences.
160 Heredity. (Crosslisted with Botany, Zoology) I; 3 cr (B-E). Heredity; genetics for students not specializing in life sciences; principles of heredity; current advances in genetics applied to humans, animals and plants with their impact on life sciences and society. Lectures and discussion. P: Crse open to all So; Open to Fr with cons inst; HS or college crse in biol recommended; not open to pre-med or sci major without cons inst.
289 Honors Independent Study. I, II, SS; 1-2 cr (I). P: Enrolled in the Cals Honors Prgm & So or Jr st. Inter-Ag 288.
299 Independent Study. 1-3 cr (I). P: Fr, So or Jr st & written cons inst. Open to Fr.
466 General Genetics. (Crosslisted with Botany, Zoology) I, II, SS; 3 cr (B-I). Genetics in eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Includes Mendelian genetics, mapping, molecular genetics, genetic engineering, cytogenetics, quantitative genetics, and population genetics. Illustrative material includes viruses, bacteria, plants, fungi, insects, and humans. P: Algebra, 1 yr chem & 1 yr biology or cons inst.
545 Genetics Laboratory. I, II; 2 cr (A). Students gain practical experience in classical and molecular genetic laboratory techniques using plants, animals, and fungi. Topics include complementation and linkage analysis, gene mapping, library screening, yeast and bacterial transformation, restriction analysis, PCR, sequencing, and Southern blot analysis. P: Genetics 466 or equiv.
561 Introductory Cytogenetics. (Crosslisted with Botany, Hort) II; 2-3 cr (B-I). Mitosis, meiosis, variations in chromosome structure and number, cytological aspects of hybridity and apomixis; chromosomes as they affect breeding behavior. P: Genetics, Botany, Zoology 466 or cons inst.
565 Human Genetics. (Crosslisted with Md Genet) I; 3 cr (B-I). Principles, problems, and methods of human genetics. Surveys aspects of medical genetics, biochemical genetics, molecular genetics, cytogenetics, quantitative genetics, and variation as applied to humans. P: Genet 466 or equiv or cons inst.
566 Advanced Genetics. II; 3 cr (B-I). Principles of classical and molecular genetic analysis taught through readings in the scientific literature. P: Genetics 466 (or equiv) & genetics major or cons inst. Required of all undergrad genetics majors.
607 Advanced Microbial Genetics. (Crosslisted with Microbio) I; 3 cr (B-I). Molecular genetic methods and related aspects of prokaryotic and lower eukaryotic biology, as well as critical analysis of the scientific literature. Approximately two-thirds of the course will focus on prokaryotes and one-third on lower eukaryotic microbes. P: Genetics 466 or equiv, Biochem 501 or equiv, & Grad st or cons inst.
610 Quantitative Genetics. (Crosslisted with An Sci) I; 3 cr (B-A). An advanced approach with emphasis on statistical foundations. Classical theory with extensions to maternal and paternal effects. Selection theory is considered in depth. P: Genetics 466 and Statistics 572 or cons inst.
612 Prokaryotic Molecular Biology. (Crosslisted with Microbio, Biochem) I; 3 cr (B-D). Molecular basis of bacterial physiology and genetics with emphasis on molecular mechanisms; topics include nucleic acid-protein interactions, transcription, translation, replication, recombination, regulation of gene expression. P: Bact 370 or equiv & Biochem 501 or equiv, or cons inst.
655 Biology and Genetics of Filamentous Fungi. (Crosslisted with Pl Path, Microbio, Botany, MM&I) Odd yrs.; II; 3-4 cr (A). Fungal genetics, genomics, and physiology using plant pathogenic fungi and the genetic models Aspergillus nidulans and Neurospora crassa as model systems to explore the current knowledge of fungal genetics and plant/fungal interactions. P: Cons inst; Pl Path 300 & 332 recommended; Genetics 466 or equiv; general microbiol crse.
677 Advanced Topics in Genetics. (Crosslisted with Md Genet) I, II, SS; 1-3 cr (B-A). Contents vary; consideration of subjects not included in the curriculum. P: Cons inst or Grad st.
681 Senior Honors Thesis. I, II, SS; 2-4 cr (A). P: Honors candidacy.
682 Senior Honors Thesis. I, II, SS; 2-4 cr. Continuation of 681. P: Honors program candidacy & Genetics 681.
699 Special Problems. I, II, SS; 1-3 cr (A). Advanced work not covered in regular courses. P: Cons inst and Sr st.