Course Overview

• Objective
• Course Features
• Course Content
• Options for Credit and Licensing

Objective

Genes, Health and Society was designed to provide an asynchronous, web-based learning opportunity for undergraduate students, classroom educators, and other life-long learners interested in exploring both classic knowledge and current thinking in the fields of genetics and genomics.

Course Features

Genes, Health and Society is an asynchronous, flexible learning experience

Genes, Health and Society is offered as an asynchronous (anywhere, anytime) learning opportunity: course participants have the flexibility to work at their own pace at times that are convenient for them. The course is divided into three distinct modules: Transmission Genetics, The Nature of Genetic Material and Medical Genetics (see below for more details). Each module is designed to stand alone as an independent unit. Course participants can customize their learning experiences by exploring topics of particular interest to them. There are multiple ways to experience Genes, Health and Society. Users may choose to take only one of the three modules, perhaps as a supplement to existing course work. Those interested in experiencing all three modules may work through them in sequence or move freely among the modules. In fact, two or more modules may be accessed simultaneously.

Genes, Health and Society is an interactive learning experience

Genes, Health and Society offers many different forms of active learning. For example, throughout the course, participants are challenged with self-assessment questions and problems. Rather than simply learning whether or not a question was answered correctly, participants receive feedback customized to different responses, similar to what might be experienced in a classroom setting. Depending on the user’s performance on these self-assessment questions, he or she may choose to access the additional review material available throughout the course.

Genes, Health and Society presents several other features intended to enhance and reinforce learning. Throughout the course, course participants use an interactive “course notebook” to answer questions and record observations. In addition, users periodically may access supplementary resources in the form of “Side Trips.” These flexible pathways increase the breadth and depth of users’ exposure to the material covered in the module, often focusing on related concepts from other disciplines or historical aspects of the topic.

Course Content

The overriding theme of Genes, Health and Society is articulated by the central question: In what ways do human health and survival depend on genetic variability? The course is divided into three distinct modules:

1. Transmission Genetics asks: How are physical characteristics transmitted from parents to offspring? You will explore classic Mendelian genetics and the principles of heredity, the methods and tools used to predict the heritability of a given trait, and ideas about the nature of science and the process of scientific inquiry. This module is composed of five sections:
   1. Models of Inheritance
   2. Laws of Inheritance
   3. Working with Crosses
   4. Types of Inheritance
   5. Pedigrees
2. The Nature of Genetic Material asks: What are the molecular structures and mechanisms that encode, replicate and translate our genome into our physical characteristics? You will explore the molecular identity, structure and behavior of genetic material, the mechanisms that underlie the translation of the genome into physical characteristics, and the historical events and scientific advances that led to our current knowledge in this field. This module is composed of three sections:
   1. Chromosome Theory
   2. Discovery of the Double Helix
   3. Gene Expression and the Genetic Code
3. Medical Genetics and Genomics asks: How does human genetic variation contribute to individual physical characteristics, including disease risk? You will learn about the role of genetic variation in human disease, and on how the study of genetics and genomics has fundamentally changed our understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. This module also explores the relationships among science, technology, and society and the legal and ethical issues emerging from the field of genetics and genomics. This module is composed of four sections:
   1. Human Genetic Variation
   2. Mechanisms of Human Genetic Disease
   3. Research in Genetics and Genomics
   4. The Changing Face of Medicine

Options for Credit and Licensing

Taking GHS for Teacher Professional Development Contact Hours

Genes, Health, and Society is available for free teacher professional development contact hours.  The Center for Educational Outreach at Baylor College of Medicine is approved by the State Board of Educator Certification in Texas as a provider of Continuing Professional Development Education. However, all professional development contact hours must be approved by a teacher's employer. You will be prompted at the conclusion of each module to provide information for a downloadable certificate documenting contact hours.

Licensing GHS

Universities and other institutions wishing to offer Genes, Health and Society as a facilitated course within their own department or organization should contact the Center for Educational Outreach at Baylor College of Medicine for information. Click here for contact information.