BIOL-140

Our genome is literally what makes us human. But what exactly is our genome? How does it dictate (or not dictate) aspects of our development and health? How can we all share "the human genome", yet each be a biologically unique individual? In this class, which is intended for non-Biology majors, we will discuss what's in the genome and how it functions as the information our cells use to build a human being. Using genomics and genetics as a starting point, we'll use readings, discussion, and group projects to explore topics such as heritable diseases, stem cells, cancer, epigenetics, ancestry tests, and aspects of genome evolution.