Fundamental principles of general chemistry: Metric measurements, matter and energy, atomic structure, chemical nomenclature, chemical bonding, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, gas laws, nuclear chemistry; properties of liquids, solids, solutions, acids and bases.

Introduction to basic organic chemistry and biochemistry: Hydrocarbons; organic functional groups, nomenclature, and reactions; polymers, carbohydrates, proteins, enzymes, lipids, nucleic acids, protein synthesis, and metabolic pathways.

Detailed study of human body function: Molecules, cells, tissues, organs and organ systems, basic anatomy essential to understanding function, physical and chemical factors and process, and selected human diseases. Laboratory work includes computer simulations and interactive programs, physiological experiments and demonstrations, and use of microscopes.

Introduction to genetics and genomic technologies: Principles of genetics and data collection (DNA and RNA structure, mitochondrial DNA, nucleic acid replication, protein synthesis, mitosis-meiosis, Mendelian principles, mutation, molecular character alignment, evolution and phylogenetic reconstruction), combined with data handling (bioinformatics mining using GenBank data), and scientific writing; includes guest speakers and on-site tours of genomics institutions and labs.

Introduction to good laboratory practices in genomics: EPA and FDA regulatory protocols and standard operating procedures for designing experiments; recording observations, analyzing and reporting results; safety, instrumentation, and equipment maintenance; and documenting and presenting project/experiment results.

Introduction to practical genomics: Laboratory techniques such as DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), primer design, DNA shearing, cloning, and data handling of raw, newly obtained DNA data with emphasis on laboratory safety and sample handling to avoid contamination; collection of new DNA data for publication in a scientific journal; includes guest speakers and on-site tours of genomics institutions and labs.

Theoretical and practical methodology for the use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR): Strategies for optimizing long-PCR performance including amplification of long fragments of DNA.

Shotgun sequencing and techniques using Covaris and the Hydroshear in DNA preparation.

Introduction to use of small-scale instrumentation involved in DNA sequencing: Bar coding and project management, sterile technique and reagents and enzymes in DNA sequencing, software management techniques in capillary sequencers and auxiliary instrumentation software, and future of DNA sequencing.

Introduction to research design: Biological research including investigation and development of a research question, and crafting a research plan to answer the question; literature searches and other research tools, critique of published research, and presentation of a research proposal.

Survey of common genetic diseases which result from various mutations and chromosomal aberrations: Genetic modifiers and epigenetic factors as they relate to disease; review of basic Mendelian principles.

Survey of current trends in human genome study: Gene theory, potential and current treatment of human genetic diseases, ethics in science, the effect of next-generation sequencing on the human genome, and the effect human genomics will have on society in the future.

Study of the specific competencies required in the Genomics Internship program: Assessment, development, practicum, and evaluation of individual skills in a genomics work setting.

Proficiency in using MacVector software: Mining GenBank and preparation of GenBank files, clustal alignments, gene annotation, and frame orientation of protein-coding genes.

Introduction to PAUP software: Character vs. character states, parsimony, distance and the methods, shared ancestry vs. homoplasy (reversals vs. parallelisms).

Introduction to MacClade software: Evolution of alternative character states and visual interface for phylogenetic trees.