Courses of Interest

Cornell offers many excellent courses in comparative and population genomics and related disciplines. These courses are offered through a variety of different departments, but a summary of relevant courses is available 3CPG_CourseList_8-23-2024. Additional information can be found on the online Courses of Study catalogue.

Personal Genomics Courses at Cornell

Several 3CPG faculty members have research programs and teach classes relevant to personal genomics and medicine, also now being increasingly referred to as “Precision Medicine”. Faculty include: Charles Aquadro, Andrew Clark, Jason Mezey, Philipp Messer, John Schimenti. Below are a few relevant courses that may be of interest:

BioMG 1290  – Personal Genomics And Medicine: Why Should You Care About What’s In Your Genes? – Charles “Chip” Aquadro       

Spring semesters. 3 credits.Prerequisite: None. Targeted to freshman and sophomores from all disciplines.
Lecture MW 11:15 am -12:05 pm, and Small Group Discussion Section on F.
Do you have allergies to milk or wheat? Curious about your family ancestry?  Does a relative suffer from a genetic disease, and you wonder if you might also be at risk? How will medicine be impacted by DNA testing?  How will your own future, your quality of life, your decisions regarding children be impacted?  What are the ethical, legal, and social challenges we all face as this genetic technology becomes rapidly available to anyone with as little as $99 and a saliva sample?   This course is not just for those interested in science, it is a topic we all need to have a basic understanding of to ensure we are prepared for what is rapidly becoming part of all of our futures.  This course is taught as a University Course for students from across campus. For a broad overview on University Courses, click here, and  for specifics about the course, click here.

BIOCB/BIOMG 4810 / 6810: Population Genetics  –  Philipp Messer

Fall, 4 credits. Prereq: BIOMG 2810, BIOEE 1780, or equiv., Lec MWF 10:10 – 11:00am, plus disc.

Population genetics is the study of the transmission of genetic variation through time and space. This course will provide a comprehensive introduction to the fundamental concepts and methods in population genetics, with a focus on exploring how patterns of genetic variation are connected to the underlying evolutionary processes. Topics include genetic drift, mutation, coalescence theory, demography, population structure, selection, fitness, quantitative traits, selective sweeps, and adaptation at the molecular level. Emphasis is placed on the interplay between theory, computer simulations, and the analysis of genetic data from natural as well as experimental populations. We will also discuss efforts to connect genotype with phenotype and ultimately fitness. Specific case studies will include the evolution of drug resistance, genetic ancestry mapping, experimental evolution, and the genetic structure and demographic history of human populations.

BIOMG 4870/6871: Human Genomics – Andrew G. Clark

Fall, 3 credits. Prerequisite: BIOMG 2810. Lec.Tues/Thurs 10:10-11:25 am.

Applies fundamental concepts of transmission, population, and molecular genetics to the problem of determining the degree to which familial clustering of diseases in humans has a genetic basis. Emphasizes the role of full genome knowledge in expediting this process of gene discovery. Stresses the role of statistical inference in interpreting genomic information. Population genetics, and the central role of understanding variation in the human genome in mediating variation in disease risk, are explored in depth. Methods such as homozygosity mapping, linkage disequilibrium mapping, and admixture mapping are examined. The format is a series of lectures with classroom discussion. Assignments include a series of problem sets and a term paper.

BIOCB 4830 /6830  Quantitative Genomics and Genetics – Jason Mezey

Spring Semesters. 4 credits, Lectures Tues/Thurs plus computer lab Friday.  Class available via video link on both Ithaca and Weill Medical School campuses. Prerequisites: Introductory probability and statistics

A rigorous treatment of analysis techniques used to understand complex genetic systems.  This course will cover the fundamentals of statistical methodology with applications to the identification of genetic loci responsible for disease, agriculturally relevant, and evolutionarily important phenotypes.  Data focus will be genome-wide data collected for association, inbred, and pedigree experimental designs. Analysis techniques will focus on the central importance of generalized linear models in quantitative genomics with an emphasis on both frequentist and Bayesian computational approaches to inference.

BIOMG 4000/6000  Genomics – John Schimenti

Fall. 3 credits. Lec MW 2:55-4:10pm

Introduction to principles underlying the organization of genomes and the methods of studying them, emphasizing genome-wide approaches to research. Covers the application of genomics methodologies for addressing issues including gene regulation, evolution, complex systems, genetics, and gene: phenotype relationships. Landmark and timely genomics papers and other research developments will be discussed. Basic bioinformatics tools will be incorporated.