The Genetics Society of America (GSA), founded in 1931, is the professional membership organization for scientific researchers and educators in the field of genetics. Our members work to advance knowledge in the basic mechanisms of inheritance, from the molecular to the population level. Genetics A key to the mystery of fast-evolving genes was found in ‘junk DNA’ A new study challenges a long-held belief that essential genes change little over time.
- Graduate Student Handbook (revised Spring 2018/19)
- Course Schedule - updated October, 2019
- Doctoral Program Coursework
Master's Program Coursework
Degree Program Requirements
M.S. students must have 30 credit hours to graduate comprised of:
21 hours of coursework, 12 of which are graduate level courses only (not from split undergraduate/graduate courses, e.g., 4100/6100). On the Program of Study form, please use * to designate 6000/7000 courses open only to graduate students.
9 hours of research (6) and thesis writing (3)
The following courses are required for graduation:
- one course of Research Seminar (PBGG/CRSS/HORT 8861)
- one course of Plant Breeding (PBGG/CRSS/HORT 6140)
- one course of Plant Breeding Practicum (PBGG/CRSS/HORT 6000)
- one Statistics course (STAT 6220 or STAT 6315 or FANR 6750 or higher)
M.S. students can only transfer 6 graduate course credits from another institution. No more than 6 hours of research (PBGG 7000) will be counted as hours on your program of study.
Core Courses
A list of our core courses are below along with suggested electives. Students will work with their Major Professor and Advisory Committee to determine the best program of study.
Plant Breeding Courses:
Genetics and Cytogenetics Courses:
Plants and Their Environment Courses:
Biometry and Bioinformatics Courses:
- STAT 6315. Statistical Methods for Researchers
Biochemical and Molecular Genetics Courses:
Electives for professional development:
- PBIO(PBGG) 8020. Essential skills for graduate students
- 2 Classes in August & Classes from October till end of semester
Ph.D. Program Requirements
Ph.D. (M.S. already earned) – students must have 30 credit hoursto graduate comprised of:
16 hours of coursework (a minimum of 16 hours of 8000-9000 level credits) excluding 9000/9005/9300
3 hours of dissertation writing (9300)
6 hours of research (PBGG 9000) and the remainder in research or relevant lower level courses
The following courses are required for graduation:
- two credits of Graduate Seminar (PBGG/CRSS/HORT 8860 & PBGG/CRSS/HORT 8861)
- Advanced Plant Breeding (PBGG/CRSS/HORT 8140)
- Plant Breeding Practicum (PBGG/CRSS/HORT 6000)
- Plant Genetics (PBIO 6500 or PBIO 8100 or PBGG 8890 or comparable)
- Statistics (PBGG 8010 or STAT 8200 or comparable)
Ph.D. students can only transfer 9 graduate course credits from another institution after beginning at UGA.
Straight Ph.D. (no M.S. required) – students must have 36 credit hoursto graduate comprised of:
27 hours of coursework (a minimum of 16 hours of 8000-9000 level credits), and including MS/PhD requirements
9 hours (minimum) of research (6h) and writing(3h)
The following courses are required for graduation:
- two credits of Graduate Seminar (PBGG/CRSS/HORT 8860 & PBGG/CRSS/HORT 8861)
- Plant Breeding (PBGG/CRSS/HORT 6140)
- Plant Breeding Practicum (PBGG/CRSS/HORT 6000)
- Advanced Plant Breeding (PBGG/CRSS/HORT 8140)
- Plant Genetics (PBIO 6500 or PBIO 8100 or PBGG 8890 or comparable)
- Statistics (STAT6220 or STAT 6315 or FANR 6750 or higher)
- Statistics (PBGG 8010 or STAT 8200 or comparable)
Core Courses
A list of our core courses are below along with suggested electives. Students will work with their Major Professor and Advisory Committee to determine the best program of study.
Plant Breeding Courses:
- PBGG (CRSS) (HORT) (PBIO) 8871. Genome Analysis and Comparative Mapping
- Weeks 6-10 Spring Semester Even Years
- PBGG (CRSS) (HORT) (PBIO) 8872. QTL Mapping and Discovery
- Weeks 11-15 Spring Semester Even Years
- PBGG (CRSS) (HORT) 8873. Transgenic Breeding
- Weeks 1-5 Fall Semester Odd Years
- PBGG (CRSS) (HORT) 8874. Genomic Selection (PENDING APPROVAL)
- PBGG (CRSS) (HORT) (PBIO) 8875. Genome-wide Association in Plants (PENDING APPROVAL)
- PBGG 9980. Graduate Internship in Plant Breeding, Genetics & Genomics (PENDING APPROVAL)
Genetics and Cytogenetics Courses:
Plants and Their Environment Courses:
Biometry and Bioinformatics Courses:
Biochemical and Molecular Genetics Courses:
Electives for professional development:
- GRSC 8550. Responsible Conduct of Research
- PBIO(PBGG) 8020. Essential skills for graduate students
- 2 Classes in August & Classes from October till end of semester
Genetics includes the study of heredity, or how traits are passed from parents to offspring. The topics of genetics vary and are constantly changing as we learn more about the genome and how we are influenced by our genes.
Inheritance
Mendel & Inheritance – powerpoint presentation covering basics of genetics
Heredity Simulation – use popsicle sticks to show how alleles are inherited
Penny Genetics – flip a coin to compare actual outcomes versus predicted outcomes from a punnett square
Heredity Wordsearch – fill in the blank, find words
Simple Genetics Practice – using mendelian genetics and punnett squares
Genetic Crosses with two traits – basic crosses, uses Punnet squares
Genetic Crosses with two traits II – basic crossses, uses Punnett squares
Dihybrid Crosses in Guinea Pigs (pdf) – step through on how to do a 4×4 punnett square
Codominance & Incomplete Dominance – basic crosses involving codominance
Genetics Practice Problems – includes codominance, multiple allele traits, polygenic traits, for AP Biology
Genetics Practice Problems II – for advanced biology students, includes both single allele and dihybrid crosses, intended for practice after students have learned multiplicative properties of statistics and mathematical analysis of genetic crosses
X-Linked Traits – practice crosses that involve sex-linkage, mainly in fruitflies
X Linked Genetics in Calico Cats – more practice with sex-linked traits
Multiple Allele Traits – practice with blood type crosses and other ABO type alleles
Multiple Allele Traits in Chickens – shows how combs are inherited (rrpp x RRpp)
Inheritance and Eye Color – uses a simulation to show how multiple alleles can influence a single trait (eye color)
How Do Genes Determine Skin Color? – this case study uses presentation slides to explore a real-life scenario where a Nigerian mother has two very fair skinned children. As the case progresses, students learn about polygenic inheritance patterns.
The Genetics of Blood Disorders – a worksheet with genetics problems that relate to specific disorders: sickle cell anemia, hemophilia, and Von Willebrand disease.
Oompa Loompa Genetics(pdf) – basic crosses and problem sets, using oompa loompas
Norn Genetics – online simulation showing basic single allele traits, multiple allele traits and codominance
Human Genetics Survey – class takes a survey of human traits, such as ear points
Human Genetics Bingo – grid with traits, powerpoint presentation discusses traits
Human Genetics Presentation – discusses ABO blood types, albinism, cystic fibrosis and other traits unique to humans
Design-a-Species – using the rules of inheritance (mendel), create an organism; dominance & recessiveness, multiple allele traits, codominance
Variations on a Human Face – toss a penny to determine the features of a face, such as freckles, dimples; then draw that face.
Paper Pets – another simulation using paper models with traits for eyes, nose, mouth, and hair.
Hardy-Weinberg Problem Set – statistical analysis, using HW equation and some dragons
Hardy Weinberg Simulation – track an allele in population by simulating how parents pass alleles to offspring
Corn Genetics and Chi Square – statistical analysis, using preserved corn and counting kernels
Corn Genetics – grow corn, 3:1 albino ratio, lab report analyzes F1, F2 crosses
Chi Square Modeling Using Candy – count the number of each color in a bag to determine if they occur in equal proportions
Fruit Fly Genetics – virtual lab where you cross different flies, gather data and statistically analyze the results
Fruit Fly (Drosophila) Virtual Lab – more extensive virtual lab through a program created by Virtual Courseware, requires set up by teacher.
Drosophilab – this virtual lab requires you to download a program to your computer, students can choose traits to cross and run chi square analysis on outcomes, while this is more basic than the Virtual Courseware lab, it appears to have less bugs.
Dragon Genetics Word Problems (ppt) – displays genetics problems on projector for students to solve
Chromosomes
Meiosis Label – look at cells in various stages of meiosis, identify and order
Meiosis Internet Lesson – look at animations of meiosis and answer questions
Meiosis Powerpoint – slideshow covers meiosis, homologous chromosomes, crossing over…
Modeling Chromosomal Inheritance– use pipe cleaners to show how genes are inherited; independent assortment, segregation, sex-linkage
Linkage Group Simulation – uses pipe cleaners and beads, students construct chromosomes with alleles and perform crosses, predicting outcomes (advanced)
Karyotyping Online – use a website simulator to learn how to pair chromosomes and diagnose abnormalities
Karyotyping Online II – another simulation on how to construct a karyotype
Chromosome Study – cut out chromosomes and tape them in pairs to construct a “paper” karyotype
Gender and Sex Determination – NOVA explores how sex is determined, and social issues of gender
DNA
DNA Powerpoint Presentation – covers the basics for a freshman level class
All Genetics And Genomics Content
DNA Coloring – basic image of DNA and RNA
DNA Crossword – basic terms
How Can DNA Replication Be Modeled – students use colored paperclips to model how one side of the DNA serves as a template during replication (semi-conservative)
See Full List On Azolifesciences.com
Transcription & Translation Coloring – shows structures involved, nucleotides, base pair rules, amino acids
DNA Analysis: Recombination – simulate DNA recombination using paper slips and sequences
DNA Extraction – instructions for extracting DNA from a strawberry, very simple, works every time!
DNA in Snorks – analyze and transcribe DNA sequences, construct a creature based on that sequence
How DNA Controls the Workings of a Cell – examine a DNA sequence, transcribe and translate
DNA Sequencing in Bacteria – website simulates the sequencing of bacterial DNA, PCR techniques
Ramalian DNA – imagine an alien species that has triple-stranded DNA, base pair rules still apply
Who Ate The Cheese – simulate gel electrophoresis to solve a crime
HIV Coloring – shows how viral DNA enters and infects a cell
Genetic Science Ethics – survey as a group ethical questions involved genetics (cloning, gene therapy..)
Your Genes Your Choices – this is a more involved group assignment where groups read scenarios about genetic testing and ethics involved.
Genetic Engineering Concept Map – Complete this graphic organizer on various techniques used in genetics, such as selective breeding and manipulating DNA
Virtual Labs and Resources
Genetic Engineering – presentation on cloning, recombinant DNA, and gel electrophoresis
Biotechnology Web Lesson – students explore genetic science learning center (https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/) and discover how clones are made, and how DNA is extracted and sequenced
Genetic Science Learning Center – explore website with animations and tutorials, answer questions
DNA From the Beginning -step by step tutorial on the discovery of genes, DNA, and how they control traits, site by Dolan DNA Learning Center
DNA Fingerprinting – another simulation, this one from PBS, that walks you through the steps of creating a DNA Fingerprint
Cloning – Click and Clone at GSLC where you can read about how clones are made and clone your own virtual mouse