In this multi-day class, students will meet live one time each week over the course of 4 weeks. By the end of the 4 weeks, students will have an understanding of basic Genetics. Topics covered include the difference between genes, chromosomes, and DNA, heredity and family history, and the path from genetic information stored in DNA to creating proteins.

Here are the topics to be covered each week:
Week 1: Introduction to Genetics: What is DNA?
Week 2: Heredity: Where did I come from?
Week 3: How does my body "read" DNA?
Week 4: Genetic Diseases

After each lesson, I post a handout reviewing the topics and terms learned in that week's lesson. In addition, students have the option to complete an optional "research project" each week (after all, science is all about research)! They may choose their favorite topic from the past week's lesson, research it and take notes during the week, then present what they learned to the class the following week. (Students may also post a video of them presenting their research if they prefer that to presenting live.) The purposes of the research project are to: 1) keep students thinking about the subject matter between classes, 2) foster curiosity and the practice of asking questions to learn, and 3) to introduce the idea of research, which is central to all sciences.

Though no previous knowledge of Genetics is required, this course may be taken after my One-Time course “A Recipe for You: Introduction to Genetics”, if students are not ready to commit to a 4-week course.