Sorry to be late to comment here but I just stumbled across this article.

I have been teaching a sophomore genetics course for 12 and have struggled with this issue. I try to integrate "molecular" and "classical" aspects of the field. It works well IF the students have had BIO I and II at our school (where they get THOROUGH training in the basics). The problem is there is no text out there (that I know of) that does this. Modern Genetics Analysis, by Griffiths et.al. did it but it seems to be out of print (last Ed. 2002). Right now I use Klug but need a change. Any suggestions? My syllabus is:

TENTATIVE COURSE OUTLINE (chapter / topic)

Unit I
1........................ Introduction to Genetics, Life Cycles and Features of Model Organisms
2........................ Meiosis & Chromosomes
3……………….. Genes: A Mendelian View
10, 11 ….…….. Genes: A Molecular View – DNA Structure, Replication & Recombination
13, 14 ………… How Genes Work: Transcription, Genetic Code &Translation

Unit II
20 …................ Techniques of Gene Cloning & Recombinant DNA
4, 7.................... Extensions of Mendel: Sex Chromosomes, Multiple Alleles, Epistasis, etc.
23……………… Introduction to Quantitative / Polygenic Inheritance
5....................... Genetic Mapping via Linkage Analysis

Unit III
6........................ Introduction to Bacterial and Viral Genetics
9........................ Overview of Mitochondrial and Chloroplast Genomes
8, 12…………… Chromosomes & Chromosomal Mutations
22 ……….…….. Applications of rDNA: Transgenics
21……………… Genomics

Unit IV
16...................... Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes
17, 18 …........... Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes; Introduction to Developmental Genetics
25...................... Population & Evolutionary Genetics


TENTATIVE LAB SCHEDULE
1. Introductory Drosophila crosses Virtual Fly™
2. Drosophila multifactor cross
3. Introduction to bioinformatics databases of model organisms
4. Isolation of DNA from Lichens (new)
5. Molecular genetic techniques:, pipetting, restriction enzyme digests, gel electrophoresis
6. Subcloning using pUC Vectors
7. Arabidopsis multifactor cross with genetic and molecular PCR based phenotyping.
8. Bioinformatics: BLAST and CLUSTAL
9. Advanced Drosophila crosses and mapping using Virtual Fly™
10. Unknown Drosophila Mutant Workup with possible Bioinformatics Project for Term Paper
11. PCR Based DNA Fingerprinting

Christopher Harendza
Montgomery County Community College
Blue Bell PA