Why did I take this course?
Sequencing the DNA of an entire mammalian genome now seems routine. The challenges of the 21st century is what to do with this data. If you take "classical" genetics, it will probably cover a lot of the fundamentals, but molecular genetics will prepare you to start thinking of disease pathologies and what kinds of effective therapeutic interventions have been done.
I was very happy to learn on the first day of class that you can take Molecular Genetics in place of Biology 300 Classical Genetics. It is also an acceptable prerequisite for Evolution but only if you get a pre-requisite waiver from the Biology Department. Don't quote me, but in order to get into Evolution you need to have taken Biology 300, Classical Genetics, but if Classical Genetics is not offered, you can take Molecular Genetics and get a waiver to get into Evolution.
This course is a course that you must be prepared for. Be in shape to absorb as much information as possible if you are not used to it. Professor Andres does a lot to help students do well in the course, but it is a VERY challenging course and it covers a lot of material. If you have never been exposed to Genetics before, or the terminology and concepts of the gene, it would probably be a good idea to pick up the book for the class and look over the main concepts. Read the chapter summary. Familiarize yourself with the big picture, as you will be learning tons of detail. Not only will you be learning about gene and it's role in protein synthesis. You will study all the names of the enzymes involved in all of the mechanisms of protein synthesis. I put a copy of the exam results from exam 1. The classroom size was very large. It was a full class, I had to petition to get into this course and was lucky he let me in because it already seemed as if it reached its capacity. By the midterm, a little less than half the students dropped.
How much do you have to study in order to get a good grade?
I studied a lot.
There were days that I studied 6 hours, and sometimes 8 hours.
I had to balance my other courses and being a mother.
If I had to do it again.
I would fit a good uninterrupted 2 hours everyday.
The book is needed to reference his lecture notes. I don't think I could have done well without the book. If you don't want to purchase the book, it would be a good idea to find it at the Library. That is what I did. The only annoying thing about that is that it is due after two weeks and if you are not careful you could go without a book for a week or end up with late fees.
But his powerpoints are so detailed, some people don't think the book is really necessary.
Each week you will be presented with 2 lectures, 3 hours worth of information.Before each class he posts a partial powerpoint, and if you go to class and fill out the powerpoint it could be a good way to learn while in class.
I made a huge mistake of trying to write everything down. Even though he provides you with all of the information after class. I wasn't thinking very effectively.
This course started at 8:00am Monday and Wednesday. I would have liked to be given the powerpoints that he posted over the information he was going over before class so I could read what he was going to go over before class, but that wasn't an option available to me. I saved all of the PDFs so that if I needed to retake the course another time, I would have them.
It would probably be better to just try to pay attention in class and still take very good notes. Dr. Andres believes that if you take good notes in class you will retain more of the class, and it did turn out to be a better way for me to learn. My mistake was I took too many notes, because I didn't trust my brain to retrieve any information. I had this class back to back with Ochem, so by the time I exhausted myself by writing everything down that I could, I was pretty tired at the end of Ochem, which ended at 11:15am. The days that I got good rest I would go over recent lecture material with a friend, but most of the time I took a break and prepared for Cell Physiology at 2:30pm. My schedule was long, and if I had to do it again, I would take less courses or take less challenging courses.
Dr. Andres does write new test questions every year. But the one time that someone gave me one of his old exams, using it to study was very helpful and helped me get a better score.
Do the extra credit.
There is no curve in this class.
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