This course is designed to provide an overview of human genetic concepts and clinical disorders that have a genetic component in order to help students understand the basics of genetic disorders. The course seeks to familiarize students with different categories of genetic disorders affecting the human population in addition to the basics and principles of human genetics in order for the students to understand how genetic disorders are initiated, inherited to the next generation, and affecting the body. Moreover, this course will provide students with the most recent discoveries about the presented disorders.

Grading:
- No exams. No papers.
- Attendance and Participation (30%): 3 unexcused absences are allowed
- Weekly Short Writing Assignments (30%): Only turn in 6 out of the 9 assignments
- In-Class Group Presentation (40%)

Description:

Class will begin with dividing the students into small groups in order to discuss their ideas regarding their assignment and the previous lecture presentation. The purpose of this activity is to reinforce the taught material in the previous week and refresh students’ memories around the taught topic. Then a class discussion would take place where groups will share their ideas with the class and answer any questions they have from the previous week or they come up with during their group discussions in order to clarify any ambiguities. Following the discussion, facilitators will present the topic of the week in the form of a presentation which would include the genetic fundamentals of disorder, the demonstrative phenotypes, the new discoveries around the indicated topic, and videos to visualize the discussed disorder. Lastly, the class would end with a Q&A regarding the presentation. The last portion of the course is designed to provide students with a chance to deeply study the disorder of their choice and be able to utilize what they have learned throughout the semester and present their chosen disorder to the class. The purpose of this activity is to create a collaborative atmosphere by increasing the sense of involvement and participation while showing students how effective and practical the taught material would be in their future educational career. In addition, weekly writing assignments will be given to reinforce the covered material and help students gain an understanding about the parts that were not clear at the time of the lecture.