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340.732.01
Principles of Genetic Epidemiology 2

Location
East Baltimore
Term
2nd Term
Department
Epidemiology
Credit(s)
3
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
Contact Name
Frequency Schedule
Every Year
Prerequisite

Principles of genetic epidemiology 1(340.731.01) and/or permission of instructor.

Description
Offers the second of a three-part series of graduate courses in Genetic Epidemiology. Details the concepts of linkage disequilibrium and population genetics, including methods for admixture analysis useful for adjusting for individual variation in genetic ancestry/background. Presents the principles of genetic association analyses for quantitative and qualitative phenotypes for population-based studies. Details the concepts and tools related to confounding due to population stratification, and approaches for genome-wide association and epigenome association studies. Introduces concepts for linkage analysis in families and use of high-throughput sequence data (whole exome and whole genome). Dedicates selected class sessions to computer labs to illustrate the methods covered.
Learning Objectives
Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate the concepts of linkage disequilibrium and explain haplotype analysis
  2. Discuss the concept of genetic admixture and confounding by ancestry in the context of epidemiology studies
  3. Describe the various design strategies for genetic studies and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each
  4. Perform genetic association tests in population-based samples, in either prospective or retrospective designs
  5. Apply tools to adjust for confounding by ancestry
  6. Apply the above concepts in the context of genome-wide association studies
  7. Perform and interpret linkage analyses on family data
  8. Explain the difference between genetic association and genetic linkage studies
  9. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of sequencing (whole exome/whole genome) studies compared to candidate gene or genome-wide marker based studies
  10. Describe and evaluate methods for quality control of data from genome-wide marker studies
Methods of Assessment
This course is evaluated as follows:
  • 30% Quizzes
  • 25% Lab Assignments
  • 5% Written Assignment(s)
  • 10% Discussion
  • 30% Final Exam