|
Useful Websites |
|
by Dr Jamie Love
© 2002 - 2010
Genetics Course
|
|
Useful Websites |
|
© 2002 - 2010
There are a large number of genetics websites out there so I am not going to give you an extensive list. That would only distract you from your studies. (You can always "goggle" as you like and explore.) Indeed, I am trying to keep the list small by choosing only the most relevant and useful websites and I've avoided those requiring special software (such as shockwave).
Leap over to the Genetics Science Learning Center from the University of Utah. Some students might complain it's a little "childish" but I think it's fun! Here you will find information that reinforces our lessons as well as advanced materials that you will find fascinating. Don't try to "do" this entire website all at once. There is a lot here including interactive "experiments", demonstrations and even some hands on "lab experiments" you might want to try. Visit it, bookmark it and enjoy it throughout our course.
To fully appreciate most of cell and nuclear division you really need better images than I can produce. Cells Alive is the best place on the web to find images of cells in action. The website sells a CD that I have not seen (so cannot recommend) but the free stuff is fantastic! I suggest that you go to this site before starting our lessons in cytogenetics - get familiar with Cells Alive. Then visit it during our cytogenetics lessons in order to better understand what I am teaching you.
After you have completed our lessons in cytogenetics, you might want to learn more about chromosomes and karyotypes. The University of Washington's Department of Pathology has a Cytogenetic Gallery that should satisfy your curiosity. Return to this website as you study more advanced parts of our course such (sex determination, chromosome abnormalities and especially the Medical Genetics portion of our course).
Brother Gregory Investigates uses a "story book" touch to teach Mendelian Genetics from the master himself - Mendel! (Or so you might think.) This clever, well-written and educational website will reinforce basic ideas that I teach so it is best used during this portion of our course. Enjoy the plant hybridization simulation (that uses javascript in a pop-up window) where you can do your own experiments!
There is no easy way to learn Hardy-Weinberg calculations
and, yes, there are programs that will do it for you - but you
should be able to do all the calculations on your own!
However, after learning the H-W calculations (and exceptions
to the H-W rules), you might enjoy Hardy Weinberg's Genetic Models where you will find a brief review of what you learned and a wonderful
pop-up simulation (but you might need a new plugin if your system is old). First test to see if it is true that, with
no selection pressure, the gene frequencies are unchanged (for
a hundred generations). Then, alter the selection factors and
watch how the gene frequencies change over the generations. How
"nasty" must the selection be in order to eliminate
the bad allele in 10 generations? How about 80 generations? (Note:
this program only allows you to alter selection pressure and ignores
new mutations, migration, etc.) Enjoy this simulation of population
genetics in evolution.
After the lessons, cat lovers will find Cats of a Different Color very interesting and you can download the FREE "Feline Genetics Primer" starting at the page Phenotype Predictor for Cats. Dog lovers can get the FREE "Canine Genetics Primer". [There is a brief "sign up" to collect each download. The company, Tenset Technologies Ltd, wants you to buy the complete version.]
During our lessons in Molecular Genetics you will enjoy
A Science Primer hosted by the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Here you will also find advanced information about "specialties" in biotechnology that I have not taught you - so you should also
visit this site after our course.
The Primer on Molecular Genetics from the U.S. Department of Energy is a great resource to check out during and after
our lessons (to learn more).
After (or maybe during) the Medical Genetics section of
our course you will want to explore the Gene Map of the
Human Genome. The opening page links to detailed information about the human
genome and its disorders. This is a fascinating website for anyone
interested in Medical Genetics so have a look at it.
Genes and Disease also has a map of gene disorders but it is arranged better and
you are more likely to spend a lot a time here - so I suggest
that you explore it after you have completed our lessons.
It has a lot of information and will teach you everything else
there is to know about Medical Genetics!
Information about genetic counseling (including how to become
a counselor and the career opportunities) can be found at the Human Genome
Project's Genetic Counseling website.
You can learn about certification from the American Board
of Genetic Counseling website
but for a more global view go to Genetic Counseling Programs.
Human Molecular Genetics 2 is a complete course on "Human Molecular Genetics" (well named). You will find the first few chapters redundant (because I already taught them) but the rest of this website is full of advanced genetics providing detailed information.
Return to the Genetics Home Page.