Professor Mary Beth Davis
email: medavis@brynmawr.edu

Genetic Engineering and Its Impact on Society

The field of genetic engineering is overwhelmingly large and constantly changing. In this lecture series I hope to introduce you to some basic scientific concepts in genetics, to define and explain a few hot topics in genetic engineering and to stimulate discussion of these topics. Genetic engineering issues raise many questions with no easy or perfect answers. We will consider some situations from multiple perspectives, and at times, touch on legal, economic, social and ethical implications of the technology.

Course Syllabus

Jan. 24	Introduction to Genetics and Genetic Engineering Introduction to genetics and molecular biology: the story of genetics from its beginnings in a monastery garden to its current presence on Wall Street.
Jan. 31	Instruction and Action at the Molecular Level: DNA to RNA to Protein
Feb. 7	Molecular Genetic Technologies: How to clone genes and extract DNA from your favorite organism
Feb. 14	The Human Genome Project
Feb. 21	Human and Animal Cloning: Facts and Fictions
Feb. 28	Feeding the world's population: the debate on genetically modified foods and crop plants

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