330.612.01 INTRODUCTION TO BEHAVIORAL AND PSYCHIATRIC GENETICS

Provides an overview of research methods and their application to the study of behavioral and psychiatric genetics. Course begins by briefly introducing necessary concepts in molecular and population genetics. The course then studies designs and analytic methods used to investigate the genetic contribution to human behavior and its disturbances. The study designs covered include the following: family, twin, and adoption studies to evaluate the extent of genetic contribution; segregation studies to determine the mode of inheritance; linkage and association studies to map genes; and other epidemiological designs to elucidate gene-by-environment interactions. These are illustrated through examples of real studies. At the end of the course, the student will be familiar with our current understanding of the role genetic factors play in human behavior, its disturbances, and how our research may further that understanding.

To review the basic molecular genetic concepts necessary for understanding how genetic factors may contribute to behavioral and psychiatric traits; To gain a better understanding of the latest research methods that may be used to investigate the genetics of behavioral and psychiatric traits; To learn about the principles of quantitative genetic studies, such as family, twin and adoption studies, and molecular genetic studies, such as linkage and association studies, and the challenges of applying these study designs to behavioral and psychiatric traits; To become familiar with the current knowledge of the role genetic factors play in behavioral and psychiatric traits of major public health concern, including schizophrenia, personality and smoking.