How hard is genetics in undergrad?

[newbie24]

Also what concepts in Bio 1 and 2 are absolutely critical to master in order to do well in Genetics? I learned Mendelian genetics in bio 1 (punnett squares, mono&di hybrid crosses, phenotype, genotype, allele, predicting probabilities, etc.). I believe this is the only concept in bio 1 and 2 that you must understand as oppose to memorizing.

any advice is appreciated.

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[Duriel]

Also what concepts in Bio 1 and 2 are absolutely critical to master in order to do well in Genetics? I learned Mendelian genetics in bio 1 (punnett squares, mono&di hybrid crosses, phenotype, genotype, allele, predicting probabilities, etc.). I believe this is the only concept in bio 1 and 2 that you must understand as oppose to memorizing.

any advice is appreciated.

I thought it was pretty easy. It just expands on what you did in bio 1 with more detail. The concepts are the same.

 

[FROGGBUSTER]

At my school, we didn't really need any prior knowledge for Genetics because they taught the concepts from the ground-up basically. It's hard to answer your question because different undergrads teach subjects differently.

 

[newbie24]

Oh ok. Thanks for you help guys.

 

[dentalWorks]

Also what concepts in Bio 1 and 2 are absolutely critical to master in order to do well in Genetics? I learned Mendelian genetics in bio 1 (punnett squares, mono&di hybrid crosses, phenotype, genotype, allele, predicting probabilities, etc.). I believe this is the only concept in bio 1 and 2 that you must understand as oppose to memorizing.

any advice is appreciated.

undergrad genetics class is HIGHLY dependent on the professor. He can make the class fun and easy, or an absolute nightmare.

I had the nightmare version, there were about 350 of us on day 1.... last day, only 280 stayed, and only 12 of those 280 got a 4.0 (thats how hard it was). Class average at the end was like 2.1 (horrible) and guess what? Most of those kids were pre-meds / pre-dents / pre-vet / pre-pharmacy / etc

 

[Waldo2012]

Like everyone says, it is very dependent on your professor but in my class if you had a very good understanding on the differences and ins and outs of mitosis and meiosis it helped a ton.

 

[coolbeans123]

Agree with dentalworks. It all depends on the professor. At my undergrad, the fall semester was the nightmare semester, the spring semester was the okay semester, and the summer semester was the easiest one. Go figure 🙄

 

[newbie24]

Thanks guys. I'll be wise when picking the professor.

 

[jvolcano]

I took molecular genetics. We learned about viruses (lambda phages) and how they switch from lysogeny to lytic (induction) via cro, ci, production of N, Q and other antiterminators.

We also learned about chromatin packaging with histones, X chromosome inactivation, translational control, lac operons, arabinose operons and trp operons and much more!

It was not that fun....

 

[mitrieD]

Mine was based on quarter system at UCSD. I had to drop the class because I was failing it or getting a C. I'll be taking it again this quarter. I was also studying like 8-12 hours a week on it. Everyone is different.


This class is highly based on intellect and logic IMO, which I don't have. Maybe I'm not made out for this? Who knows. Good luck if you're taking it.

 

[alucidinterval]

I took a Human Genetics course that was just a typical genetics class but included a lot of applications to humans and I thought it was very interesting. I pulled an A and it wasn't too challenging, but as others have said all of that really has to do with the professor and school.