Principles of Genetics

Jennifer Knight and Christy Fillman (both at the University of Colorado Boulder)

Principles of Genetics explores topics in eukaryotic molecular and classical genetics, focusing on current biotechnology techniques and their applications to humans. The course is problems-based with a strong emphasis on applying information and skills in real-life situations.

$40 PER SEMESTER/$35 PER QUARTER FOR 4-YEAR ACCESS

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IN this COURSE, STUDENTS… 

  • Develop more effective study habits through metacognitive practice

  • Actively engage in structured rounds of self-testing in a personalized Study Path

  • Structure their learning around transparent and measurable lesson-level learning objectives 

  • Receive immediate feedback and focus on challenging concepts and skills

“I have found Codon immensely helpful in providing students with opportunities for feedback and metacognition.”
— Lisa McDonnell, University of California San Diego

KEY FEATURES OF THE COURSE:

  • 600 auto-graded interactive assessment questions that include immediate feedback, span across Bloom’s taxonomy, and can be used for pre-class activities, homework assignments, or summative exams

  • More than 100 open-response questions for students to practice effective science communication and self-assess their reasoning.

  • Our team of educators works closely with instructors to customize each course, selecting, editing, and adding learning objectives, assessments, and instructional materials.

  • Instructors gauge students’ progress and can address conceptual difficulties on the fly as they are teaching the class.


Units

  • Molecular Genetics: Structure and Mechanisms

  • Genotype to Phenotype

  • Basic Principles of Inheritance

  • Extensions to the Principles of Inheritance

  • Beyond Single Gene Traits

  • Evolution and Population Genetics

  • Disease Diagnostics and Treatments

  • Biotechnology

*The course learning objectives were developed by the authors, iterated on for over a decade, and ultimately streamlined to align with the Genetics Society of America’s learning objectives represented on CourseSource.


Meet The Authors

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Dr. Jennifer Knight has been teaching courses to all levels of undergraduates in the Department of Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology at the University of Colorado Boulder for 20 years. She has worked to develop this Genetics course over many years, choosing only a subset of commonly taught topics in order to create more opportunities for active and deeper learning. Her work as a Biology Education Researcher has included developing concept assessments to diagnose student misunderstandings and measure learning gains, facilitating many workshops on scientific teaching, and studying how students engage in complex problem solving and reasoning, particularly in genetics. She is the past President (2019-2020) and founding member of the Society for the Advancement of Biology Education Research (SABER).

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Dr. Christy Fillman has been a Senior Instructor at University of Colorado Boulder for 15 years, where she teaches genetics, phage genomics labs (through the Howard Hughes Medical Institute SEA-PHAGES Program), and upper division and independent study research courses. She is a member of the Learning Assistant Alliance at the University of Colorado Boulder and supervises learning assistants—students who provide peer support to students in genetics and other large lecture courses. She has developed active-learning and problem-solving activities to enhance understanding of core concepts in genetics and phage genomics.