Overall as a plant genetics major, this class is useful and insightful. You definitely have to attend class, especially to get word of the homework assignments.

You have to do a short book report and oral presentation on a "loosely defined, course related book." There are some assignments you may never know about if you don't show up to class. You talk about different genetic and breeding methods, a lot of orange corn stuff, gene regulation and expression, molecular markers, etc.

You will hear of assignments on short notice, but the profs are pretty good at being flexible with the due dates. Torbert is a nice guy in person but bad at responding to emails. He is also kind of a stickler on grammar. He is a chill lecturer. (Dr. Ma who teaches the 1st 8 weeks is very very hard to understand and is less flexible in my experience.)

Be more interactive in lecture, if possible.