Seminar description
This course addresses topics such as what genes are, how they are identified, and how knowledge of genes impacts society. You will learn basic concepts in genetics. Using this conceptual foundation, we will discuss the significance of genomic research for understanding human biology, and the social consequences that may result from it.
Get to know your professor
Andrea Cortinois
You can call me…
Andrea
I just can't live without…
Sushi
I am surprisingly good at…
Avoiding difficult questions 😉
My hometown is…
Toronto
For my undergraduate degree…
I can hardly remember, but the final thesis for my undergraduate program was in human biology (cancer immunology) in Milan, Italy.
Fun fact:
Well, in spite of my name, I am a “he,” which is quite normal in Italy, where I was born.
If I wasn't teaching, I would be a…
A skipper; a writer; an interior designer; a farmer…
NAME: Bart Testa
INNIS FYF SEMINAR I WILL BE TEACHING IN 2020-2021: Story Worlds & The Cinema, Action Cinema, Chinese Cinemas
HOMETOWN: Toronto
THE LAST GREAT MOVIE I SAW WAS: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
MY ACTUAL FAVOURITE MOVIE: Touch of Evil
THE SONG I HAVE ON REPEAT RIGHT NOW: “Opening” by Phillip Glass
FAVOURITE FOOD: Pizza
GUILTY PLEASURE: Zombie & vampire movies
I AM SURPRISINGLY VERY GOOD AT: Dish washing
A FUN FACT ABOUT MYSELF: I have a new puppy.
MY FAVOURITE THING ABOUT TEACHING: The actual teaching part.
WHY YOU SHOULD TAKE MY CLASS: Many opportunities to work on your writing.
WHAT I WANT MY STUDENTS TO KNOW: All writing is rewriting.
A COOL FACT ABOUT MY FIELD OF STUDY: I get paid to talk about films.
SOME FINAL WORDS: Roll credits.
What I'm working on now is…
I am interested in migration as a determinant of global health and in the factors that result in displacement, including climate change.
Lately, something that has been exciting me about my research/scholarship is…
Work I am doing on temporary migrant workers in Canada.
A fun fact about my field of study is…
A small surprise in everyday life can lead to a big theoretical discovery.
I was inspired to get into this field because…
It is a reflection of my entire life, including the fact that I am a serial migrant, if a very privileged one.
A fun fact about my field of study is…
Unfortunately, these days there is very little that could be considered “fun” when studying migration and health.
In a sentence, what you’ll learn in my course:
The title of the course, “Genes, Genomes, and Us,” is self-explanatory. Given my background, we will focus on the “us” part.
One of my favourite things about teaching first-year students is…
First-year undergraduate students are curious, open-minded, engaged, and ready to challenge the instructors.
My best advice for those starting their first year…
Learning is a life-long process that you should guide and actively shape. Doing well in your courses is a by-product of the way you understand learning, not the main goal.
NAME: Chelsea Rochman.