Library Policy Statements

I. PROGRAM INFORMATION

The Department of Genetics offers undergraduate courses as a service to the university at large, plays a formal role in graduate instruction in medical genetics for students in the MD program, and provides graduate education in genetics leading to the MS and PhD degrees. The MS and PhD degree title is Biomedical Sciences (Genetics and Molecular Biology). Many of the undergraduate course offerings are designed to meet the needs of students pursuing study in the biological sciences programs and the paramedical professions, such as microbiology, zoology, botany, medical technology, dental hygiene, and nursing. There is no undergraduate degree offered in this subject area.

The concentration of the department is in the areas of human genetics, Drosophila genetics, molecular and cell genetics, and population and evolutionary genetics. Areas of active faculty and graduate student research include cell and developmental genetics; medical and epidemiological genetics; molecular biology; and population and evolutionary genetics, particularly with Drosophila as a model. Molecular biology is an area of growing emphasis.

Because of the diverse interests of the faculty, many play a prominent role in a number of academic programs outside the department, including the Cellular, Molecular and Neurosciences Program, and the Hawaiian Evolutionary Biology Program. There is also collaboration between faculty members in a variety of other departments or research units, including anatomy and reproductive biology and the Pacific Biomedical Research Center.

II. COORDINATION OF COLLECTING RESPONSIBILITIES

The field of genetics interrelates with many of the other biomedical sciences. The areas of Drosophila research and evolutionary biology require communication and cooperation with the entomology and zoology selector.

Occasionally, materials of use in these fields are located in the Bishop Museum Library.

The collections at several of the hospital libraries act as a supplementary resource for faculty and students in the more medically oriented aspects of the field of genetics.

III. GUIDELINES TO MATERIALS COLLECTED OR EXCLUDED

Language:

English language material predominates. Some Japanese and European language materials are also collected.

Chronological:

Acquisition emphasis is almost exclusively on current (past five years) research publication. Although the field of genetics is based on cumulative studies over time, the areas of emphasis in this program, molecular and cellular genetics, are relatively new.

Geographic:

Not relevant.

Date of Publication:

Current.

Type/Format of Materials Collected:

Monographs on current research in the field; conference proceedings; handbooks, dictionaries, indexes, abstracts, and bibliographies (paper/electronic); government documents; periodicals (electronic access, if available); and some upper level textbooks. Excluded are manuscripts, reprints of articles previously published, house organs and newsletters, and most non-UH dissertations.

Treatment:

Bibliographical; applications; reference; statistical and mathematical; medical aspects; reports on scientific experimental results; and professional and applied training.

Date compiled: 7/01 Compiler: Paul Wermager