Genetics and Genomics

Faculty Contacts:
Bruce Hamilton (bah@ucsd.edu)
Joseph Gleeson (jogleeson@ucsd.edu)

Genetics and Genomics are at the core of modern life sciences. Gene and Genome-centered approaches are essential in the investigation basic biological mechanisms, disease susceptibility and response to therapeutic interventions. The Genetics and Genomics Track provides a focus for this area to students and faculty in the Biomedical Sciences. Track faculty have research interests in genome-wide regulatory networks, disease gene identification, genetic architecture of complex traits, mechanisms of gene expression, genetic models of disease, gene therapy and related areas.

Track courses and training activities are integrated with the UCSD Genetics Training Program, which brings students and faculty from the Biomedical Sciences, Biological Sciences and Neurosciences graduate programs as well as peer institutions together into one coherent genetics community. The Genetics Training Program appoints and begins training students at the beginning of the second year of graduate study after completion of the core curriculum. Students in the BMS Genetics track are strongly encouraged to participate in this inter-departmental program, including a weekly journal club that fosters interactions with Genetics students across the La Jolla community.

Biomedical Sciences students who choose the Genetics Training Track should enroll in the Genetics and Genomics course (BIOM 252) in their first or second year. As topics in this course rotate from year to year, students are encouraged to take this course two successive years, fulfilling one core and one elective course requirement.

Rolf Bodmer John Carethers Webster K. Cavenee Theodore Friedmann Frank Furnari Joseph G. Gleeson Lawrence S.B. Goldstein Gabriel Haddad Bruce A. Hamilton John R. Kelsoe, Jr. Richard Kolodner Albert La Spada Mark A. Lawson Fred Levine Pamela L. Mellon Alysson R. Muotri Daniel O'Connor Bing Ren Michael Geoff Rosenfeld Maike Sander Nicholas Schork David Traver Eric Turner Miles F. Wilkinson Gene Yeo Benjamin Yu Kang Zhang Kun Zhang Binhai Zheng

Required Coursework for BMS students

BMS students take a core curriculum that provides the foundation to allow them to specialize in any of the offered tracks, focus areas, or customized study. In the Fall quarter, "Molecules to Organisms" provides a systematic approach to current Biomedical Research, using analysis of selected topics to focus on the process of research discovery and its critical evaluation. "Seminar in Biomedical Research" includes attendance at one of the UCSD seminar series and is designed to provoke critical discussion of the presented findings and scientific approaches in a small group setting. BMS students also take short courses in statistical analysis of data and ethics in research in the third quarter of their first year.

Specialized Coursework

First year courses:

BIOM252 BIOM272

Genetics and Genomics Seminars in Genetics

Advanced courses:

BIOM262 BIOM242

Quantitative Methods in Genetics Genetics Journal Club

Electives:

BGGN218 BGGN219 BGGN223 BGGN227 BGGN228 BGGN229 BIOM223 BIOM252 MED271 NEU221 NEU263 NEU268

Postgenomic Biology Classic Papers in Genetics Graduate Genetics Plant Molecular Genetics Developmental Genetics Advanced Oncogenes Genetics, Metabolism & Inherited Disorders Genetics & Genomics (topics rotate, may be taken twice for credit) Gene Therapy and Molecular Medicine Genetics & Epigenetics in Brain Development Developmental Neuroscience Molecular & Cellular Neurobiology

Seminar Series

Students attend the Genetics and Genomics in Medicine series, as well as seminars in other local series as appropriate.

Journal Club

Students are expected to participate in the weekly Genetics Journal Club throughout the academic year.