Overview: The human genome was sequenced in 2003, followed by sequences for many other species, including dog, cat, horse, and cow. But what do the words “genome” and “sequence” actually mean? How does your DNA sequence encode the information that makes up a basic blueprint of who you are? What does all this mean for genetic testing for disease? In this class, you will learn about the structure of DNA, how mutations are introduced into a DNA sequence, how a DNA sequence is translated into a protein, and how proteins work together to make us who we are. We will also discuss the genomic revolution: exactly what has changed in biology and medicine as a result of the sequencing of the human genome in 2003 and our new ability to sequence the genomes of other species? This is a class in molecular genetics and genomics. Specifically, the class will cover:  the molecular structure of DNA  DNA replication and mutations  transcription of DNA to RNA  translation of RNA to proteins  protein structure and function  genome sequencing  variation between individual genomes  genetic testing for disease (how it works, how reliable it is)  new advances in gene editing The Genetics for the Behavior Consultant series: There are four classes in this series, which can be taken in any order. This class is the first and provides a good foundation for a deeper understanding of the others. The other classes are Heredity: passing genes from parent to child; From Domestication to Inbreeding: population genetics in companion animals; and Behavioral Genetics in Companion Animals. All four classes are available self-study from IAABC, and will periodically be offered interactively. If you took some of the other classes in the series when they were first offered, I encourage you to take this one now – it will help you better understand what you learned in the others! Prerequisites: This class presumes no previous knowledge of genetics. However, the curriculum design is intended to be flexible and to support students learning at different levels. Specifically, the student-driven question structure is intended to give you the chance to learn about the related topics that interest you. If you are wondering if this class is right for you, feel free to ask: jph@dogzombie.com.

Sponsor:IAABC
Speaker(s):Jessica Hekman, DVM, MS

Contact: IAABC
 Email: courses@iaabc.org
 Web: http://iaabc.org/courses/