3.0

credits

Average Course Rating

DNA is the code of life and variability in this code can be critical in determining human health outcomes. In a post-genomic era with increasingly advanced genetic tools and data it is critical for future public health professionals to understand the role that genetics plays in disease on the individual and population level. More and more, genetics is instructing public health interventions by informing individuals of their risk of acquiring certain diseases, explaining disease etiology, guiding treatment options in the wake of personalized medicine, and may dictate the future of genetic-based disease treatment in the form of gene therapy. The goal of this semester long course is to expand upon basic genetic concepts and apply them to understanding how variation in the human genome can impact health outcomes and inform treatment. We will look at how genetic diseases are inherited, the various ways in which they can manifest as pathology, and how they are discovered and diagnosed. We will also learn how to interpret genome wide association studies and genetic test results and explore the field of genetic counseling. We will finish by looking at the future of genetic medicine by looking at personalized medicine, gene therapy, and gene drive technologies and the potential ethical implications of these interventions. Prior genetics coursework is useful, but not required. Gordis Teaching Fellowship course. Priority registration is given to Public Health Studies majors. Other students will be permitted to register as space allows.