Fall 2026

General Genetics 1

General genetics covering eukaryotic and prokaryotic systems, transmission, mapping, molecular mechanisms, and engineering.

offering recorded3 credits
Recorded instructors · Fall 2026 Bret Payseur3.8/5David Wassarman3.7/5

Summary

1 / 6

The molecular genetics portion taught by David Wassarman is described as significantly harder and more complex than transmission genetics. Reviewers report that exams are incredibly difficult, with Wassarman requiring deep answers and grading more harshly than Bret Payseur.

Grade history

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average GPA
letter grades
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AB
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All recorded terms · compare terms & instructors

Prerequisites

Course map

(ZOOLOGY/​BIOLOGY 101 and 102, or ZOOLOGY/​BIOLOGY/​BOTANY 151,BIOCORE 381, or BOTANY/​BIOLOGY 130) and (CHEM 104, 109, or 115). Not open to students with credit forGENETICS 466.

GENETICS 467 used by

“Used by” includes alternatives; linked courses may have other requirements. This is a best-effort interpretation; check the catalog requirements above.

Prerequisite text tree

Professors

Fall 2026
/5Adjusted rating
/5RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 4.18/5 from 11 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.

For this course: 4.0/5 raw quality · 2.7/5 difficulty · 3 reviews

RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.

Bret Payseur is described as caring, approachable, and clear about expectations, with helpful homework and willingness to meet outside class. Reviewers also note his deep field knowledge and engaging presentation style.

One reviewer found Payseur condescending and rude when answering questions, stating his content was not engaging and his attitude was unpleasant, though they considered him a fine professor overall.

Recent recorded grades — Fall 2023: 3.02 GPA, 53.0% A/AB (n=117 letter grades); Fall 2024: 3.05 GPA, 47.1% A/AB (n=102 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.17 GPA, 48.1% A/AB (n=104 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.

David Wassarman

/5Adjusted rating
/5RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 3.64/5 from 11 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.

For this course: 3.8/5 raw quality · 4.5/5 difficulty · 6 reviews

RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.

David Wassarman delivers engaging lectures and clarifies complex molecular genetics material, often providing helpful examples and accessible support outside class. Reviewers describe him as passionate and kind, noting his willingness to explain patterns in difficult systems.

Wassarman’s grading is reported as substantially harder than his co-instructor, with students struggling to provide sufficient depth in short answers despite using slide content. Some find his fast-paced lectures difficult to follow, and exams are described as incredibly difficult.

Recent recorded grades — Fall 2023: 3.02 GPA, 53.0% A/AB (n=117 letter grades); Fall 2024: 3.05 GPA, 47.1% A/AB (n=102 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.17 GPA, 48.1% A/AB (n=104 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.

Historical instructors & teaching patterns

Historical review of Chris Hittinger describes the course structure as horrible, with excessive memorization demands and a difficult final exam. The reviewer reports incompetent grading by TAs and unresponsiveness from the instructor regarding regrade requests.

BRET PAYSEUR is recorded teaching in Fall 2020, Fall 2021, Fall 2022, Fall 2023, Fall 2024, Fall 2025. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

DAVID WASSARMAN is recorded teaching in Fall 2020, Fall 2021, Fall 2022, Fall 2023, Fall 2024, Fall 2025. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

Calendar & sections

Fall 2026

Schedule loads here as you scroll.

SectionModeEnrolled / capacityWaitlist
LEC 001Classroom Instruction144 / 1450

Times are Central. Select a meeting for details; export includes recorded dates for the selected sections. Enrollment reflects scan time.

Meeting source records
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Student experience

the class

Students generally find the course challenging but rewarding, with both instructors praised for caring about student understanding and providing clear expectations. Reviewers highlight that the molecular genetics portion is more complex and requires more effort than transmission genetics.

Recent recorded grades — Fall 2023: 3.02 GPA, 53.0% A/AB (n=117 letter grades); Fall 2024: 3.05 GPA, 47.1% A/AB (n=102 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.17 GPA, 48.1% A/AB (n=104 letter grades).

difficulty & workload

The molecular genetics portion taught by David Wassarman is described as significantly harder and more complex than transmission genetics. Reviewers report that exams are incredibly difficult, with Wassarman requiring deep answers and grading more harshly than Bret Payseur.

Both instructors are described as accessible and willing to help outside of class, though experiences vary. Bret Payseur is praised for clear expectations but criticized by one student for being condescending, while David Wassarman is noted for engaging lectures despite a fast pace.

Topics

  • Eukaryotic genetics.
  • Prokaryotic genetics.
  • Transmission genetics.
  • Probability and hypothesis testing.
  • Genetic mapping.
  • Molecular genetics.
  • Gene expression.
  • Genetic engineering.

Skills

  • Probability and hypothesis testing in genetic contexts.
  • Genetic mapping.
  • Molecular genetics analysis.
  • Gene expression mechanisms.
  • Genetic engineering applications.

Grades

Historical instructor

Fall 2026 · Projected

Before grades are released

– average GPA

Approximate 80% prediction interval

About this estimate

The course’s semester-average GPA, not an individual student’s grade. The center uses 5 same-season terms, weighted toward recent results.

The range uses the finite-sample 80th-percentile rank of absolute errors from earlier same-season forecasts. Each forecast uses only records from earlier terms. At least four forecasts are required; bounds are rounded outward and limited to 0–4. This is an empirical estimate: changing instructors or grading policies can reduce its coverage.

7 earlier forecasts · 0.11 GPA average error.

Grades over time

Through Fall 2026

More grade details Grade mix, volume & source data

Where this course fits relative to

Latest available grades · Fall 2025 · all course levels

GPA

Higher than % of other courses in this group.

Course GPAs · red marks this course’s range

letter grades

More recorded grades than % of other courses in this group.

Typical course in this group: letter grades.

About this comparison

1320 courses over the same term, each with at least 30 recorded letter grades. Cross-listed courses count once. GPA is not a measure of difficulty or teaching quality. The typical course is the median by recorded grade count; tied values are not counted as lower. Grade counts describe course scale, not unique students or typical section size.

Descriptions compare GPA with this group’s average: at least 0.20 higher or lower; otherwise close to average. Section size uses median recorded enrollment: small up to 30, mid-sized 31–99, large 100+. Lectures and discussion/lab sections are described separately.

Sources & history

UW–Madison

Catalog & offerings

Descriptions, prerequisites, and recorded course offerings.

Catalog observation history

Observations at scan time; dates do not imply when a catalog change took effect.

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Selected offering source records
GENETICS 467 · Fall 2026

General Genetics 1

Recorded 2026-09-07
Raw records
[
  {
    "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4",
    "semester": "1272",
    "observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00",
    "offering_id": "1272:412:024515",
    "course_id": "GENETICS 467",
    "course_uid": "course_bbfd76ac0fb3ee00a37e7090",
    "term_id": "1272",
    "source_course_id": "024515",
    "source_subject_id": "412",
    "title": "General Genetics 1",
    "credits_min": 3,
    "credits_max": 3,
    "typically_offered": "Fall"
  }
]
Rate My Professors

Student reviews

Original comments behind the course and instructor summaries.

Read original reviews
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Madgrades

Grade history

Recorded grade distributions by term, section, and instructor.

Explore recorded grades
Dataset & model

Recorded 2026-09-07

Download the original dataset
Model outputs & technical records
nvidia/Qwen3.6-35B-A3B-NVFP4
LLM outputs across runs
Download part 1
Full model traces

Recorded model configuration, reasoning, and tool conversations.

Download part 1
Model & dataset provenance
{
  "model": "nvidia/Qwen3.6-35B-A3B-NVFP4",
  "model_revision": "1355db6a052410cfd62085d94b58866fd0f2c3c5",
  "task_version": "14",
  "output_id": "c3d61f819a48949011fabeeef6a091ecf91d3c3a4826f7b13bf8b3f6d9cc9360",
  "requirements_status": "valid",
  "dataset_revision": "e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349",
  "observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00"
}