Genetics Major: Genomics Option (B.S.)

https://colsa.unh.edu/molecular-cellular-biomedical-sciences/program/bs/genetics-major-genomics-option

The Genetics:Genomics program (GEN) explores the world of genetics and genomics in plants, animals, and microbes. Genomics is the study of genomes and includes topics like DNA structure and function, high-throughput sequencing, and computational comparison of the genomes of different organisms. The Genetics faculty strongly value hands-on learning and many GEN students conduct undergraduate research under the supervision of our faculty. GEN graduates are prepared for successful careers in biotechnology fields or for entry into a variety of graduate school or health professional programs.

The Genetics program offers course work and laboratories in:

  • molecular genetics
  • bioinformatics
  • human genetics
  • comparative genomics
  • plant genetics
  • microbial genetics
  • population and evolutionary genetics

Students in the Genetics program may participate in a variety of experiential learning activities including:

GEN graduates have been successful in attaining careers as:

  • research scientists and laboratory technicians in
    • biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies
    • academic research programs
    • forensics
    • biomedical research centers & medical schools
    • government agencies
  • genetic counselors
  • educators
  • technical support associates

GEN graduates are prepared for further education in:

Degree Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement: 128 credits
Minimum Residency Requirement: 32 credits must be taken at UNH
Minimum GPA: 2.0 required for conferral*
Core Curriculum Required: Discovery & Writing Program Requirements
Foreign Language Requirement: No

All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.

Major Requirements

Students majoring in Genetics with the Genomics option take seven Foundation courses, six Bioscience Core courses, four Genetics Core courses and five Major Elective courses. One capstone experience, supervised and approved within the major, is required of all seniors. The capstone explores areas of interest based on the integration of prior learning.  In addition, all other University requirements must be completed, including those for the Discovery Program and the University Writing Program.

A grade of C-minus or better is required in statistics and all Bioscience Core, Genetics Core, and Major Elective courses.

Foundation Courses
CHEM 403General Chemistry I 14
CHEM 404General Chemistry II4
CHEM 545
CHEM 546
Organic Chemistry
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory 2
5
MATH 424BCalculus for Life Sciences 34
BIOL 528Applied Biostatistics I4
PHYS 401Introduction to Physics I4
PHYS 402Introduction to Physics II4
1

Fulfills Physical Science Discovery requirement

2

Students applying to health profession schools need a full year of Organic Chemistry, a full year of introductory Biology, and a full year of English. CHEM 651/CHEM 653 and CHEM 652/CHEM 654 should be taken in place of CHEM 545/CHEM 546; ENGL 502 or ENGL 503 is suggested in addition to ENGL 401. See Pre-Professional Health Program advising.

3

Fulfills Quantitative Reasoning Discovery requirement

Bioscience Core Courses
BIOL 411Introductory Biology: Molecular and Cellular 44
BIOL 412Introductory Biology: Evolution, Biodiversity and Ecology4
GEN 604Principles of Genetics4
BMS 503
BMS 504
General Microbiology
and General Microbiology Laboratory
5
BMCB 605Principles of Cell Biology4
BMCB 658
BMCB 659
General Biochemistry
and General Biochemistry Lab
5
4

Fulfills Biological Science Discovery requirement, Discovery Inquiry requirement, and Discovery laboratory requirement

Genetics Core Courses
GEN 401Professional Perspectives in Genetics1
GEN 606Genetics Lab4
GEN 711Genomics and Bioinformatics4
Select one of the following:
GEN 704Genetics of Prokaryotic Microbes5
GEN 771Molecular Genetics4

Electives

A total of five unique major electives are required.

Required Electives
GEN 712Programming for Bioinformatics5
GEN 721Comparative Genomics4
Population/Evolutionary Genetics Electives: Select two
GEN 705
GEN 725
Population Genetics
and Population Genetics Lab 5
5
GEN 713Microbial Ecology and Evolution4
GEN 715Molecular Evolution4
GEN 772Evolutionary Genetics of Plants4
Bioscience Electives: Select one
GEN 704Genetics of Prokaryotic Microbes 55
GEN 705
GEN 725
Population Genetics
and Population Genetics Lab 5
5
GEN 706Human Genetics4
GEN 713Microbial Ecology and Evolution4
GEN 715Molecular Evolution4
GEN 717Molecular Microbiology5
GEN 771Molecular Genetics4
GEN 772Evolutionary Genetics of Plants4
GEN 774Techniques in Plant Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology4
GEN 795Investigations in Genetics (4 credit minimum) 61-4
GEN 795WInvestigations in Genetics (4 credit minimum) 61-4
GEN 799Senior Thesis (4 credit minimum) 61-4
GEN 799HHonors Senior Thesis (4-credit minimum) 61-4
ANSC 602Animal Rights and Societal Issues4
ANSC 612Genetics of Animals0 or 4
ANSC 701Physiology of Reproduction4
BIOL 704Plant-Microbe Interactions3
BIOL 706Data Science with R for the Life Sciences4
BIOL 711Experimental Design & Analysis4
BIOL 752New England Mushrooms: a Field and Lab Exploration4
BMCB 750Physical Biochemistry3
BMCB 753Cell Culture5
BMCB 754Molecular Biology Research Methods5
BMCB 760Pharmacology4
BMCB 763Biochemistry of Cancer4
BMCB 794Protein Structure and Function4
BMS 650Molecular Diagnostics4
BMS 702Endocrinology4
BMS 705Immunology3
BMS 706Virology3
BMS 718Mammalian Physiology4
BMS 719Host-Microbe Interactions4
BMS 735Molecular and Cellular Parasitology4
BMS 740Human Microbiome4
INCO 790Advanced Research Experience (4-credit minimum) 61-4
NR 706Soil Ecology4
ZOOL 625
ZOOL 626W
Principles of Animal Physiology
and Animal Physiology Laboratory
5
ZOOL 690Evolution4
ZOOL 736Genes and Behavior4
ZOOL 777WNeuroethology4
5

This course can count as both a Bioscience Major Elective AND a Population or Evolutionary Genetics Major Elective IF students take one additional Bioscience Major Elective.

6

Must be a research project with a genetics focus

Capstone

The capstone explores areas of interest based on the integration of prior learning.  The capstone requirement may be satisfied through a course, created work or product, or some form of experiential learning (e.g., honors thesis, mentored research project, or other special student activity).  Students may take more than one capstone course.  Capstone completion is never displayed on Degree Works; your advisor will certify capstone completion at the time of graduation. Students must have 90 credits or more when completing their capstone requirement.  Contact your advisor for questions about capstones.

Approved Capstone Courses
GEN 704Genetics of Prokaryotic Microbes5
GEN 705
GEN 725
Population Genetics
and Population Genetics Lab
5
GEN 715Molecular Evolution4
GEN 717Molecular Microbiology5
GEN #790Undergraduate Teaching Experience (4 credit minimum; classroom presentation required)1-4
GEN 795Investigations in Genetics (4-credit minimum) 61-4
GEN 795WInvestigations in Genetics (4-credit minimum) 61-4
GEN 799Senior Thesis (4-credit minimum) 61-4
GEN 799HHonors Senior Thesis (4-credit minimum) 61-4
INCO 790Advanced Research Experience (4-credit minimum) 61-4
6

Must be a research project with a genetics focus

SAMPLE Course Sequence for Genomics

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
GEN 401 Professional Perspectives in Genetics 1
BIOL 411 Introductory Biology: Molecular and Cellular 4
ENGL 401 First-Year Writing 4
CHEM 403 General Chemistry I 4
Discovery course 4
 Credits17
Spring
BIOL 412 Introductory Biology: Evolution, Biodiversity and Ecology 4
MATH 424B Calculus for Life Sciences 4
CHEM 404 General Chemistry II 4
Discovery course 4
 Credits16
Second Year
Fall
GEN 604 Principles of Genetics 4
BMCB 605 Principles of Cell Biology 4
BIOL 528 Applied Biostatistics I 4
Discovery course 4
 Credits16
Spring
GEN 606 Genetics Lab 4
BMS 503
BMS 504
General Microbiology
and General Microbiology Laboratory
5
CHEM 545
CHEM 546
Organic Chemistry
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory
5
Discovery course 4
 Credits18
Third Year
Fall
GEN 712 Programming for Bioinformatics 5
BMCB 658
BMCB 659
General Biochemistry
and General Biochemistry Lab
5
PHYS 401 Introduction to Physics I 4
Discovery course 4
 Credits18
Spring
GEN 711 Genomics and Bioinformatics 4
GEN 721 Comparative Genomics 4
PHYS 402 Introduction to Physics II 4
Discovery course 4
 Credits16
Fourth Year
Fall
Genetics Core course 4
Major Elective (Pop/Evol Genetics; possible Capstone) 4
Elective (any course) 4
Elective (any course) 4
 Credits16
Spring
Major Elective (Bioscience)
Major Elective (Pop/Evol Genetics) 4
Elective (any course) 4
Elective (any course) 3-5
 Credits11-13
 Total Credits128-130

SLO: Core Knowledge in Genetics

  • Students will be able to describe DNA, its role, structure, how DNA is packaged in the chromosomes in terms of histones, nucleosomes, and chromatin, including its discovery, how has modern genomics influenced, and differences between prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
  • Students will be able to describe the central dogma of molecular biology, including specific details related to replication, transcription, and translation.
  • Students will be able to define and describe evolution, how drift, gene flow, mutation, natural selection, recombination, within a population genetic framework, may result in evolution.
  • Students will be able to describe the differences between mitosis and meiosis and how errors in these processes may effect phenotype, cause disease, etc.
  • Students will be able to evaluate how genes and the environment can interact to produce a phenotype, including allelic differences and changes in gene regulation.
  • Students will be able to describe the concept of deep time, and how comparing genes and genomes allows us to understand evolution and relatedness between species.
  • Students will be able to use pedigrees to determine mode of inheritance of a trait.
  • Students will be able to describe ethical issues related to modern genomics and implications for health care and insurance, interpersonal relationships, family planning, etc.
  • Students will be able to describe high-throughput sequencing, and how it has changed the practice of modern genetics.

SLO: Quantitative Literacy, Inquiry & Analysis

  • Students will be able to apply the scientific method to examine experimental evidence and draw informed conclusions.
  • Students will be able to use graphs to represent scientific data.
  • Students will be able to apply statistical methods to interpret scientific data.

SLO: Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

  • Students will be able to use data to troubleshoot an unexpected outcome .
  • Students will be able to apply core knowledge to critically interpret scientific data.

SLO: Written Communication

  • Students will demonstrate written skills to communicate scientific knowledge and experimental data.

SLO: Oral Communication

  • Students will be able to demonstrate oral presentation skills to communicate scientific knowledge and experimental data.