AGR 3303 - Genetics 20 Nov 2000

University of Florida - Fort Lauderdale

Exam #3: ADVANCED GENETICS (Take home - DUE 4 December 2000)

Part I:  Applications of genetics:

Write a 1-page typed (or word-processed) summary (300-400 words) on one of the following current topics and be prepared to discuss it in class (about 10 minutes).  Please bring enough copies of your summary for all students or else bring them to Phil with sufficient minutes to run off some copies.
Make sure to address:

          (a) What is it?

          (b) Mention specifically any examples of Mendelian genetics or molecular genetics.

          (c) Include some references including URLs, pages from Klug and Cummings, etc.  Good credible, readable sources, though not original sources, include Scientific American http://sciam.com and Natural History http://amnh.org/naturalhistory/ magazines.  (Unfortunately the archive searches on both of these excellent magazines are poor, but you might luckily find a reference to a specific article and you can trot down to your local library and copy it for free.)  Probably the best search engine is currently http://google.com or you might consider a metasearch tool such as http://copernic.com  (Costs some money; other free services are available.)  Be cautious of new scientific reports which have just broken in the media and haven't had a few years to simmer.  But, if you want an access to several credible media outlets such as the major wire services or http://www.bbc.co.uk  you might consult http://drudgereport.com.

          (d) Tell what has been learned and what is still needed to be learned.  Make sure that your page lists your name and the name of the topic.

Topic choices (pick one; if you want to do something else, please let me know):

1. Conservation genetics (e.g., the condor): Does it work?
2. Resistance in wild populations of plants: Cases of transfer
3. Multiple-drug resistant microbes (e.g., TB): Are we overprescribing?
4. Current status of required genetic screening for prospective parents
5. Del Monte's transgenic Flavr Savr tomato: Sense or antisense?
6. Southern corn leaf blight, a 1970 plague caused by breeding technology
7. Adam and Eve never met? The case of genetic dating the human species
8. The Ames test: A mutagenicity test gone awry?
9. Rosalind Franklin: Was she denied credit for the double helix?
10. Inbreeding and breeds of domestic animals
11. XYY: A criminal genotype or hoax?
12. Variegation in plants: chimera or simply inherited trait?
13. Lupus
14. Transposable elements ("jumping genes")
15. Somaclonal variation

Write three multiple-choice exam questions similar to the style used in class, and covering different key concepts of genetics (see http://grove.ufl.edu/~turf/genetics/guide.html for examples). Make alternative choices that are fair and not ridiculous. The questions should test actual knowledge of concepts, not memorization of terminology. Next, write an explanation of why the wrong answers are wrong.