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340.731.01
Principles of Genetic Epidemiology 1

Location
East Baltimore
Term
1st Term
Department
Epidemiology
Credit(s)
4
Academic Year
2024 - 2025
Instruction Method
In-person
Class Time(s)
Tu, Th, 9:00 - 10:20am
Auditors Allowed
Yes, with instructor consent
Available to Undergraduate
Yes
Grading Restriction
Letter Grade or Pass/Fail
Course Instructor(s)
Contact Name
Frequency Schedule
Every Year
Prerequisite

College-level biology

Description
Presents fundamental concepts and methods in genetic epidemiology. Reviews terminology of genetics, introduces principles of population genetics, and provides an overview of various genetic epidemiology study designs, covering fundamental analyses, inferences, plus their strengths and limitations. Presents methods for assessing familial aggregation/correlation and genetic linkage and association analyses will be presented with an emphasis on how these are used in genetic epidemiology. Covers statistical techniques for modeling inheritance of complex phenotypes in family data. Explains various study designs commonly used in genetic epidemiology to identify the genetic basis of Mendelian as well as common, complex diseases. Discusses the role of high throughput genomics technologies within the context of genetic epidemiology studies.
Learning Objectives
Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  1. Present fundamental concepts and methods in genetic epidemiology
  2. Review basic terminology in genetics and introduce various genetic epidemiology study designs, covering basic analysis, inferences, plus their strengths and limitations
  3. Discuss basic terminology in the field of human genetics
  4. Discuss the basic principles behind major molecular biology techniques, such as PCR, and their applications in genetic epidemiology studies
  5. Discuss various exposures, or markers, used in genetic epidemiology studies
  6. Discuss principles of Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium and be able to estimate allele and genotype frequencies
  7. Discuss and calculate simple statistics, such as odds ratios and LOD scores
  8. Discuss the difference between linkage and association studies
  9. Discuss the difference between family-based and population-based studies
  10. Discuss the difference between direct and indirect association studies
  11. Interpret results of a linkage study
  12. Interpret results of an association study
  13. Select an appropriate study design for addressing a particular question
  14. Discuss the inferences drawn from the different genetic epidemiology studies
Methods of Assessment
This course is evaluated as follows:
  • 45% Midterm
  • 45% Final Exam
  • 10% Lab Assignments