This document provides the syllabus for the online course "Fundamentals of Genetics: The Genetics You Need to Know (XGEN101)". The course introduces basic genetics concepts and explores more complex topics like molecular biology and genetic research. It is made up of 7 modules covering topics like Mendelian genetics, molecular genetics, mutations, and applications of genetic analysis. Students must complete video lectures, exercises, and a final exam to receive a certificate of completion. The course is designed to provide a foundation for further genetics and genomics study.

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Fundamentals of Genetics: The Genetics You Need to Know (XGEN101)
Course Syllabus
Course Description
The field of genetics is rich with discovery. Mapping the human genome, conducting genetic testing,
and identifying new vaccines are just a few of the many ways genetics can have a powerful impact on
our world. This course provides a stair-step introduction of genetics from the basic concepts to
exploring more complex topics, including molecular biology, gene mapping and screening, and
reverse and forward genetic research. You will explore both what is known about genes as well as how
we use genetics research to better understand basic biology. This course will create the solid
foundation needed to be successful in the subsequent courses within the program.
This course is the required first course in the Stanford Genetics and Genomics Certificate.
Course Topics
Module 1: Class Introduction
Michael Snyder
Module 2: Mendelian Genetics
Will Greenleaf, Barry Starr
Module Exercises-
 Activity: Punnett Square Game
 Activity: Drosophila Lab
o Note- this exercise may not work across all mobile platforms. A computer may be
needed to complete this lab.
 Quiz 1
 Quiz 2
 Quiz 3
 Quiz 4
Module 3: Genetics at the Molecular Level
Will Greenleaf, Barry Starr, Ruth Tennen
Module Exercises-
 Reading: Fedoroff, Nina V. “Transposable Elements, Epigenetics, and Genome Evolution.”
Science 338.6108 (2012): 758–767.
 Quiz 5
 Quiz 6
Module 4: Mutations and Mechanisms of Nuclear and Extranuclear Inheritance
Will Greenleaf, Barry Starr
Module Exercises-
 Activity: Biocomputation Activity
o Note- this exercise may not work across all mobile platforms. A computer may be
needed to complete this activity.
 Quiz 7

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 Quiz 8
 Quiz 9
Module 5: Population Genetics
Kasia Bryc
Module Exercise-
 Quiz 10
Module 6: Concepts of Reverse Genetics
Monte Winslow, Barry Starr, Ruth Tennen
-Interview with Jennifer Doudna
Module Exercises-
 Reading: Wijshake, Tobias, Darren J. Baker, and Bart van de Sluis. “Endonucleases: New
Tools to Edit the Mouse Genome.” Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Basis
of Disease.
 Quiz 11
 Quiz 12
 Quiz 13
 Quiz 15
Module 7: Applications in Genetic Analysis
Monte Winslow
Module Exercises-
 Readings:
o Greer, Joy M., and Mario R. Capecchi. “Hoxb8 Is Required for Normal Grooming
Behavior in Mice.” Neuron 33.1 23–34.
o Chen, Shau-Kwaun et al. “Hematopoietic Origin of Pathological Grooming in
Hoxb8 Mutant Mice.” Cell 141.5 775–785.
 Activity: Characterizing an Unknown Gene
 Quiz 16
 Quiz 17
 Quiz 18
Additional Course Resources
These additional course resources are linked to throughout the course modules. This material is
optional and is not required studying for the course. No quiz or exam questions will come from these
urls.
 Why Some Alleles Are Dominant- http://genetics.thetech.org/ask/ask227
 How to Tell If You Are Homozygous Dominant or a Heterozygote-
http://genetics.thetech.org/ask/ask428
 Detailed Explanation of Sex-Linked Traits- http://genetics.thetech.org/ask-a-geneticist/color-
blind-genetics
 Eye-Color Calculator (Two-Gene Punnett Square)- http://genetics.thetech.org/online-
exhibits/what-color-eyes-will-your-children-have
 Step-by-Step Instructions for Working Out a 2 Step Punnett Square-
http://genetics.thetech.org/ask/ask203

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 Video on DNA Packaging- http://www.dnalc.org/resources/3d/08-how-dna-is-packaged-
advanced.html
 Video on RNA Splicing- http://www.dnalc.org/resources/3d/
 Translation- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Protein_translation.gif
 The Evolutionary Significance of Introns- http://genetics.thetech.org/ask/ask326
 Video on Mutations- http://www.cff.org/AboutCF/Testing/Genetics/CFMutations/
 Mitosis- http://www.sumanasinc.com/webcontent/animations/content/mitosis.html
 Video of Drosophila Mitosis Under The Microscope-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFKA647w4Jg
 Meiosis- http://www.sumanasinc.com/webcontent/animations/content/meiosis.html
 Model Organisms- http://genome.wellcome.ac.uk/doc_WTD020803.html
 How To Make a Transgenic Mouse-
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/science/transgenic/
 Making a Knockout Mouse- http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/scientists-can-
analyze-gene-function-by-deleting-6526138
 Video on CRISPR- http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/indyplus-video-crispr-
technique-8925604.html
 RNAi- http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/lsps07.sci.life.gen.rnaitherapy/rnai-
therapy/
 RNAi-Based Therapies- http://www.nature.com/nrg/journal/v12/n5/full/nrg2968.html
 Video on RNAi- http://www.nature.com/nrg/multimedia/rnai/animation/index.html
 An RNA World?- http://genetics.thetech.org/ask/ask110
 Designer Babies 1- http://genetics.thetech.org/ask/ask373
 Designer Babies 2-
http://www.councilforresponsiblegenetics.org/genewatch/GeneWatchPage.aspx?pageId=226
 Genetic Screens - http://www.nature.com/nrg/focus/screens/index.html
Instructors
Michael Snyder
Academic Director, Stanford Genetics and Genomics Certificate
Professor and Chair in Genetics, Stanford University
Will Greenleaf
Assistant Professor of Genetics, Stanford University
Barry Starr
Program Director, Stanford Genetics and Genomics Certificate
Director, Outreach Activities, Stanford University
Ruth Tennen
Lecturer, Stanford University
Kasia Bryc
Population Geneticist, 23andMe

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Monte Winslow
Assistant Professor of Genetics and of Pathology, Stanford University
To contact any of the instructors in this course, or the Teaching Team in general, please email ask-
the-professor-genetics@lists.stanford.edu.
Course Requirements
Please watch all course videos and complete all course assignments. Successful completion of the
assignments, final examination and course evaluation are required to complete this course. The link
to the “Final Steps” section of the learning platform will unlock after you have completed all of the
other course activities.
The exam consists of multiple choice questions and is done online. You may attempt the final
examination multiple times. A score of 90% is required to successfully pass the exam. Once you have
passed the examination and completed the evaluation, a digital record of completion will be emailed
to you.
Exercises
Each exercise will be submitted via the course assignment submission area within the course learning
platform. To successfully complete each exercise, you will need to follow all instructions. You will be
receiving instructor feedback on some of your submitted assignments. Feedback on those exercises
will be given within the learning platform within 3-5 business days. Please continue to progress
through the course while awaiting instructor feedback.
Your responses to the exercises will be kept within the learning platform. However, you will not have
access to the responses you submitted after 90-day course access has expired. If you would like to
keep a copy for your records, please do so separately.
Please note that some assignments may contain Macromedia Flash movies or Java applets and may
not be able to be completed on all mobile platforms. Notes about these requirements will be included
in the assignment instructions and noted where applicable on this syllabus.
Any questions related to the assignments should be sent to ask-the-professor-
genetics@lists.stanford.edu. Be sure to include your name, the course number and the assignment
name along with your questions.
Failing to complete all of the required exercises (or submitting partial answers to the exercises) in a
deliberate attempt to unlock the course exam prematurely is a violation of the Stanford University
Honor Code. Information regarding your responsibilities as a student of the Stanford Genetics and
Genomics Certificate, including a link to the Honor Code, is available at
http://scpd.stanford.edu/aboutUs/customerServiceCommitment.jsp#yourresponsibilities.
Course Materials
All course materials are provided within the course learning platform. These include the course
videos, course handouts and all assignment instructions.

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The course learning platform is available to you for 90-days after date of enrollment via your
mystanfordconnection account. For more information regarding how to use the course learning
platform, please visit
http://player.vimeo.com/external/99190590.hd.mp4?s=02b5cdd84bc1d9e48f2320ce1d15b25b
Participant Integrity Policy
The Stanford Center for Professional Development, as part of Stanford University, takes academic
integrity very seriously. All forms of academic misconduct, including but not limited to, cheating,
fabrication, plagiarism, or facilitating academic dishonesty are grounds for participant discipline.
Unless otherwise indicated by the Teaching Team, assignments must be individual efforts. It is not
acceptable to copy (verbatim or even with minor changes) sections of a book, article or Internet
resource, and submit them as one’s own work. Regardless of the source, all references must be
properly cited and include full bibliographic information. Direct quotes must be indicated as such.
Any questions about acceptable collaboration or use of resources should be directed to the Teaching
Team via ask-the-professor-genetics@lists.stanford.edu.
For more information on the Stanford University Honor Code, please visit
http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/communitystandards/policy/honor-code.
Confidentiality
Your communications and personal information are held in strict confidence and will not be shared
with others without your express permission in compliance with the US Federal Education Report and
Privacy Act (FERPA). The Stanford Center for Professional Development will not sell or market your
information to third parties.
Questions
For content-related questions, please contact ask-the-professor-genetics@lists.stanford.edu. Be sure
to include your name, the course you are taking and your questions.
For questions relating to course materials, billing, testing, general program information, etc., please
contact SCPD Student Services at stanford-genetics@stanford.edu or 650-263-4700. Available 8:30am-
4:30pm Pacific Time, Monday- Friday.