Curriculum
Courses
Faculty

General

• MGEN-Q 580 Basic Human Genetics (3 cr.)P: General genetics and consent of the instructor. An introduction to the genetics of hu­man traits and heritable diseases. Emphasis will be on general aspects of eukaryotic genetics as it applies to humans, but some prokaryote genetics will be included for comparison.
• MGEN-Q 604 Genetic Counseling Communication Techniques (4 cr.)Genetic counseling models, methods and communication skills; professional issues related to client interactions. Practice-based learning through role play, analysis of genetic counseling case studies, and other class interactions.
• MGEN-Q 606 Foundations in Genetic Counseling (4 cr.)Introduction to the principles and practice of genetic counseling. Topics include genetic counseling techniques, prenatal diagnosis counseling, pediatric/adult counseling, and support services.
• MGEN-Q 608 Introduction to Genetic Counseling Research (1 cr.)An overview of topics relevant to the development of genetic counseling research projects. Topics will include library tools, project development, research ethics, IRB, basic statistics, and manuscript preparation. Each student will develop a research proposal.
• MGEN-Q 609 Practical Cancer Genetic Counseling (2 cr.)Overview of hereditary cancer syndromes, genetic risk assessment for personal and family history of cancer, genetic counseling approaches, and testing issues.
• MGEN-Q 610 Clinical Genetics Practicum (3 cr.)P: Consent of the instructor. Methods for obtaining medical and family histories, approaches to evaluation of individuals and families with ge­netic disorders, and techniques for providing genetic counsel­ing. May be repeated once for credit.
• MGEN-Q 611 Genetics Analysis Laboratory (1-2 cr.)P: Consent of the instructor. (Not currently being offered.) Computer storage and retrieval of family data. Use of programs for genetic analysis. Includes analysis of twins, families of twins, and genetic linkage and segregation.
• MGEN-Q 612 Molecular and Biochemical Genetics (3 cr.)Molecular and biochemical aspects of gene function in various genetic disorders. Emphasis on the DNA lesion when known, on aber­rations in the metabolic pathways, and on structural defects. Discussion of hemoglobinopathies, phenylketonuria, storage diseases, and other conditions.
• MGEN-Q 613 Molecular and Biochemical Genetics Laboratory (2 cr.)The student will learn to perform many of the molecular and biochemical techniques for the determination of genetic mark­ers that can be used for diagnosis, genotyping, and forensic applications.
• MGEN-Q 614 Psychological Aspects of Genetic Counseling (3 cr.)P: One course in introductory or abnormal psychology. Introduc­tion to theory and research in the field of genetic counsel­ing. Topics include risk assessment, attitude assessment, and decision-making. The social, ethical, and legal aspects of the delivery of genetic services are also covered.
• MGEN-Q 615 Prenatal Diagnosis Practicum (3 cr.)Training in prenatal genetic counseling. Counseling referrals may include advanced maternal age, abnormal prenatal screening, abnormal ultra­sound, or other pregnancy complications.
• MGEN-Q 616 Specialty Clinics Practicum (2 cr.)P: Consent of the instructor. An overview of the long-term management of pa­tients living with a variety of genetic conditions. Students may provide genetic counseling while in these clinics.
• MGEN-Q 617 Genetic Counseling Practicum (1-2 cr.)P: Q606, Q610, consent of instructor. Practice advanced genetic counsel­ing skills in a weekly clinic. Develop proficiency in pedigree construction, patient education, and psychosocial assessment/counseling.
• MGEN-Q 620 Human Cytogenetics (3 cr.)P: Consent of the instructor, basic genetics. Study of chromosome structure and replication, X-inactivation, meiosis, numerical and structural rearrange­ments in humans, and cytogenetics of malignancies.
• MGEN-Q 621 Human Cytogenetics Laboratory (3 cr.)P: Basic genetics, Q620, and consent of instructor. Current techniques in human cytogenetics. May be taken concurrently with Q620.
• MGEN-Q 622 Cytogenetics of Malignancies (2-3 cr.)P: Consent of instructor. This course will examine the biologic implications of cytogenetic abnormalities found in malignancies. Aberrant gene function as a result of cytogenetic abnormalities will be stressed.
• MGEN-Q 623 Dysmorphology for Genetic Clinicians (1 cr.)Study of human congenital malformations, deformations, disruptions and dysplasias; review of associated syndromes; approach to dysmorphology evaluation.
• MGEN-Q 624 Clinical Management and Genetics of Metabolic Disease (1 cr.)The student will gain a practical understanding of inborn errors of metabolism, the management of patients with these diseases and the genetic counseling issues that arise in the care of families with these diseases.
• MGEN-Q 625 Introduction to Clinical Genetics (1 cr.)This class will introduce the students to the broad areas of practice in clinical genetics, the ethical, legal, and social issues involved in the care of patients and families with genetic disorders, and the inter­face of clinical genetics and genetics research.
• MGEN-Q 626 Fundamentals of Biochemical and Molecular Genetics (1 cr.)Introduction to the concepts of molecular and biochemi­cal genetics with emphasis on examples of pathogenesis of human disease. Not currently being offered.
• MGEN-Q 627 Fundamentals of Human Cytogenetics (1 cr.)An intro­duction to the principles of human cytogenetics with applica­tions in basic genetics, including the clinical consequences of chromosomal abnormalities. Not currently being offered.
• MGEN-Q 628 Fundamentals of Population Genetics (1 cr.)Introduction to the broad areas of population genetics and gene discovery. Not currently being offered.
• MGEN-Q 629 Embryology for Genetic Clinicians (2 cr.)Normal human conception and embryonic/fetal development and factors causing birth defects.
• MGEN-Q 630 Population Genetics (3 cr.)P: Basic genetics. Basic prob­ability and Bayes theorem, as applied to genetic counseling. Effects of mutation and selection on the survival of alleles in a population; consequences of consanguinity and inbreeding; methods of analysis including segregation and linkage includ­ing nonparametric methods; quantitative genetics such as twin studies, and heritability.
• MGEN-Q 631 Quantitative Genetics (2 cr.)P: G651 and G652 or equivalent. (Not currently being offered.) Inheritance of human quantita­tive traits, partitioning of phenotypic variation, estimation of genetic variance and heritability, methods of analyzing resem­blance among relatives including nuclear families, twins, and half-siblings.
• MGEN-Q 640 Special Topics in Medical and Molecular Genetics (1 cr.)Study of advanced topics/literature not already emphasized in Q580, problem-based learning, and skills helpful for the PhD (grant writing, examination preparation).
• MGEN-Q 642 Dermatoglyphics (2 cr.)P: Consent of instructor. (Not currently being offered.) Formation, development, classification and varia­tion of finger, palm, and footprint patterns (dermatoglyphics) in humans; interpretation of results of quantitative and statistical techniques utilized in the study of the inheritance of derma­toglyphic traits, variation in twins, and applications in clinical genetics.
• MGEN-Q 660 Medical Genetics Seminar (1 cr.)P: Basic genetics. Top­ics chosen from aspects of medical genetics not extensively treated elsewhere. Various phases of research in medicine from a genetic and clinical point of view. Students may receive credit during each semester of residence on the Medical Center campus.
• MGEN-Q 730 Methods in Human Genetics (3 cr.)P: Basic genetics, dif­ferential calculus, and Q630 or equivalent. Sampling methods employed in study of human genetics; methods for analysis of segregation, linkage, mutation, and selection with family data collected under various forms of ascertainment.
• MGEN-Q 800 Medical Genetics Research (arr. cr.)

Graduate

• GRAD-G 504 Introduction to Research Ethics (2-3 cr.)Introduction to the basic concepts of research ethics. The course will cover historical development of concern with ethics in science as well as practical information needed by students working in the sci­ence today. Format will be lecture and discussion.
• GRDM-G 724 Molecular Cancer Genetics (1 cr.)An introduction to cancer focusing on genetics. Topics include causes and effects of chromosome instability (including centromere/telomere failures and chromosomal translocations), epigenetic changes and genetic risk factors during cancer progression.
• GRDM-G 725 Gene Transfer Approaches to Clinical and Basic Re­search (Gene Therapy) (1 cr.)A lecture-based course of basic principles involved with the transfer and expression of genetic material. Focus on technical aspects of each vector system, fol­lowed by applications to human diseases/experimental animal models. Practical understanding of non-viral and viral gene transfer to utilize these techniques in research studies.
• GRDM-G 727 Animal Models of Human Disease (1 cr.)This class explores advantages and limitations of animal models of hu­man disease. Topics include models for diabetes, psychiatric disorders, cancer, osteoporosis, polycystic kidney and cardio­vascular disease. The goal of the course is to provide a frame­work for students to select experimental animal models in their future research careers.
• MGEN-G 788 Introduction to Next Generation Sequencing (3 cr.)Understanding the basic principles of next generation sequencing technology. This includes basic biological applications, basics in data processing, statistical and informatics theories in data analysis, advantages, limitations, and assumption of different methodologies, and biological interpretation of the results.
• MGEN-G 901 Advanced Research (6 cr.)For Ph.D. students who have at least 90 credit hours. May be taken for maximum of six semesters.