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A thematic course exploring five fundamental features of all biological systems, including structure and function, information flow, energy and matter, interactions, and evolution. For people—usually, young children—with symptoms of a rare genetic condition, pinpointing the molecular and genetic cause often requires an arduous “diagnostic odyssey.” But a correct diagnosis can be life-changing. This course will explore universal biological principles through the lens of rare human genetic disorders. We will survey the myriad ways that DNA mutates, how these mutations instigate changes in cells and organs, how the variant genes are inherited, and how this knowledge can inform genetic counseling and treatment plans.