OSHER 961 - Genetics for Dummies

You are not alone if you're dazed by DNA and confused about CRISPR. Genetics knowledge has exploded since your last biology class. Scientists today understand in detail how the information in DNA is used to build an organism, allowing doctors to diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases more accurately. This course will first explore the fundamentals of genetics and how genomic information is employed within our cells. We will then examine the role of genetic variants in diseases such as Alzheimer's and cancer. Additional topics will include CRISPR, GMOs, gene therapy, immunotherapy, epigenetics, and genetic reprogramming to create stem cells. Course leader David Stillman is a retired University of Utah professor who has researched how genes are regulated for more than 40 years.