June 8 to July 31, 2009
Course Title: NURS 860: Molecular Genetics in Research, Health and Society
Graduate Credit Hours: 12
Length of course: 8 weeks

Course description
This eight-week course is designed to provide a foundation in molecular genetics for use in clinical practice and the research laboratory. Basic concepts and principles of genetics are covered in the lecture component. The laboratory component focuses on techniques integral to current molecular genetics. Tutorials, utilizing a case-based approach, are used to integrate the concepts and principles of genetics with laboratory experiments that are designed to provide an understanding of genetic testing, detection of genetic disease, how to understand the strengths and limitations of genetic approaches and how to use the information clinically to counsel individuals and families. Ethical, legal and clinical practice issues and perspectives, and the role of the nurse in the area of genetics are also addressed in a seminar format.


Objectives

1. Increase knowledge of molecular genetics for use in research, teaching and clinical practice
   
2. Gain ability to use molecular genetics as markers for biological and psychosocial research.
   
3. Evaluate families with genetic problems and make appropriate referrals to genetic and community resources.
   
4. Analyze strategies used for gene therapy and trends likely to result in advanced diagnostic and clinical therapeutics in the future.
   
5. Develop educational programs on human genetics and health care for nurses and consumers.
   
6. Evaluate the accuracy of genetic information conveyed to consumers and strategies for correcting the misinformation.
   
7. Analyze the strengths and weakness of genetic tests and inaccuracies that can be introduced during the testing period.
   
8. Analyze ethical and legal issues related to genetic testing and genetic counseling and their implications for practice and research.
   

The following laboratory techniques and experiments are performed during the course:

• Measurements, Micropipetting, and Sterile Techniques
  
• Bacterial Culture Techniques
  
• DNA Restriction Enzyme Digest and Electrophoresis (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms)
  
• Effects of DNA Methylation on Restriction Enzyme Digestion
  
• Bacteriophage Infection of E. coli (transduction)
  
• Rapid Colony Transformation of E. coli DH5a with pBLU
  
• Plasmid Minipreparation and Restriction Analysis of Purified pAMP
  
• Isolation of E. coli chromosomal DNA
  
• Transformation of E. coli with Recombinant DNA including antibiotic-resistance genes
  
• Restriction Mapping of Chromosome 1
  
• Restriction Mapping of pBR322
  
• Detection of anAlu Insertion Polymorphism by Polymerase Chain Reaction
  
• Southern Blotting Techniques

*There will be four quizzes. You may drop your lowest quiz grade or opt not to take quiz four. Only three quiz scores will be averaged.

The Georgetown University Graduate "letter" grading scale will be used for quizzes, research proposal and final course grade. Letter grades will equate to the following percentage scores in all graduate program courses: