Heather E. Lorimer Ph.D.

“If something is in me that can be called religious,
then it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so far as science can reveal it.”
“The most incomprehensible thing about the universe is its comprehensibility”
-Albert Einstein

Associate  Professor, Genetics, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Youngstown State University, Youngstown OH 44555

Recently completed a Faculty Improvement Leave in Cambridge England from July 2003- January 2004
 

Research:

Research in progress, including current and potential projects involving graduate students and undergraduate students.
 

Mitochondrial DNA    Abstracts for meetings and publications  Feline projects

          LorimerLab2007         
  Four of the Lorimer Lab
    October 2007

Courses:

2007-2008 Fall, Spring, Summer

BIOL 2601 - General Biology: Molecular and Cellular, Fall section 0356 T, Th 5:35-6:50, and sections 0344 and 0345 M,W,F 9:00-950 and 2:00-2:50 (team taught with Dr. Asch): The fundamentals of molecular and cellular biology, genetics, current biotechnology, for biology and biomedical sciences majors.

BIOL 3721 - Genetics, Spring, Summer : This is an undergraduate class concentrating on classical genetics, gene interactions,  gene mapping techniques including some statistical analysis, whole genome analysis, and population genetics, using humans, as well as other animals and plants, as examples. Prerequisites: General Biology I and II (Biol 2601 and 2602) or equivalent, or admission into the BS/MD program.

Biol  5832 -  Advanced Eukaryotic Genetics:  Spring  2008:  This is a "swing" course that may be taken by advanced undergraduates for undergraduate credit or by graduate students for graduate credit.  This class will cover current advances in our understanding of eukaryotic genetics with a focus on experimental design and techniques.  Topics will include control of DNA replication, DNA damage repair, telomeres, cell-cycle control, cancer, genetic diseases, gene therapy, genomics, population genetics related to gene-pools and endangered species, and evolutionary genetics.  Prerequisites: Genetics (Biol 2621) and Molecular Genetics (Biol 3790)

STEM 2600 - Genetics Module:  Fall 2007 MWF 10:00-11:50 Explorations in the Sciences.  Interdisciplinary laboratory course that fulfills the General Education Requirement for laboratory science designed to familiarize students who are not science majors with scientific methods and disciplines.  The goal of this module is to familiarize you with scientific methods of inquiry in general and use these methods to learn about genetics.  Specifically you will explore the basic mechanisms of inheritance, how the genetic information in populations changes, how chromosomes are analyzed, and how to analyze data to revela basic inheritance patterns.

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Virology was taught in Spring 2007 and will not be taught again until Spring 2009
it alternates with Advanced Eukaryotic Genetics

BIOL6963 - Virology, Spring 2007 :  This is a graduate course covering the molecular mechanisms of viral infection and replication. We discuss viral infection, host response, cancer causing viruses, new and emergent viruses, and viruses as tools for gene therapy. Students read both a text, review articles, and original research papers. Discussion and presentations are emphasized.
Academic Honesty:
 
The point of education in most fields is to develop problem solving skills, to learn to think critically, to be able to clearly express ideas to others through writing or speaking, and to develop a knowledge base in a field of study.  Grades are a way that progress towards these goals is measured, and the final degree serves as a certification that a student has acquired the skills and knowledge listed above, which are necessary to perform on the job or in school for a more advanced degree.  Academic dishonesty is any form of conduct where an individual attempts to achieve a grade or present any scholarly work without performing all of the work themselves.  Unpunished academic dishonesty can result in inadequately trained individuals trying to perform important jobs and the devaluation of courses, degrees, and the degree awarding institution.

Study tips:
 

Science links:

General Information

Genetics Science Learning  Center (University of Utah)   
Completed Genomes (Genomes Online)
CDC (Center for Disease Control)
Mendelian Inheritance in Man
Human Genome Project  Information, and some info on famous Geneticists
The National Human Genome Research Institute

Databases for Sequence Analysis etc.

European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI)
National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)
SaccharomycesGenome Database

Specific Information

The Mitochondrial and Metabolic Disease Center, U. C. San Diego
 
 

My interest in Biology does not stop with academics.  I like to garden, cook, and I show and breed pedigreed cats.  These hobbies all tie in nicely with my interest in biology and genetics.
Show cats and feline genetics