Genetics and Genomics

Catalog description

Genetics and genomics are issues that affect individuals throughout their lifespan. These topics will gain even more importance as we learn more about the genetic basis of medical conditions. Therefore, anyone involved in healthcare will need an understanding about the social, ethical and legal issues of genetics and genomics, as well as their underlying scientific principles. This course provides an overview of genetics and genomics while exploring the implications of these topics on the healthcare setting. The first part of the course concentrates on the basics of genetics and the science behind heritable characteristics. The course goes on to discuss the implications of genomics, concluding with an investigation of the social, ethical and legal issues of genetic technology (cloning for medical and reproductive purposes, genetically modified organisms or GMOs, and who owns genetic information). Prerequisite(s): Complete one of the following courses: BIOSCI-177, CHEM-186, BIOSCI-202 or CHEM-208.