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Principles of Genetic Epidemiology 1

Summer Inst. term
4 credits
Academic Year:
2022 - 2023
Instruction Method:
Asynchronous Online with Some Synchronous Online
Mon 06/13/2022 - Fri 07/08/2022
Auditors Allowed:
Grading Restriction:
Letter Grade or Pass/Fail
Course Instructor:
priya duggal

College-level biology


Presents fundamental concepts and methods in genetic epidemiology. Reviews terminology of genetics, introduces principles of population genetics, and provides an overview of various genetic epidemiology study designs, covering fundamental analyses, inferences, plus their strengths and limitations. Presents methods for assessing familial aggregation/correlation and genetic linkage and association analyses will be presented with an emphasis on how these are used in genetic epidemiology. Covers statistical techniques for modeling inheritance of complex phenotypes in family data. Explains various study designs commonly used in genetic epidemiology to identify the genetic basis of Mendelian as well as common, complex diseases. Discusses the role of high throughput genomics technologies within the context of genetic epidemiology studies.

Learning Objectives:

Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:

  1. Present fundamental concepts and methods in genetic epidemiology
  2. Review basic terminology in genetics and introduce various genetic epidemiology study designs, covering basic analysis, inferences, plus their strengths and limitations
  3. Discuss basic terminology in the field of human genetics
  4. Discuss the basic principles behind major molecular biology techniques, such as PCR, and their applications in genetic epidemiology studies
  5. Discuss various exposures, or markers, used in genetic epidemiology studies
  6. Discuss principles of Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium and be able to estimate allele and genotype frequencies
  7. Discuss and calculate simple statistics, such as odds ratios and LOD scores
  8. Discuss the difference between linkage and association studies
  9. Discuss the difference between family-based and population-based studies
  10. Discuss the difference between direct and indirect association studies
  11. Interpret results of a linkage study
  12. Interpret results of an association study
  13. Select an appropriate study design for addressing a particular question
  14. Discuss the inferences drawn from the different genetic epidemiology studies
Methods of Assessment:

This course is evaluated as follows:

  • 15% Lab Assignments
  • 5% Quizzes
  • 40% Midterm
  • 40% Final Exam

Instructor Consent:

No consent required