Wendell H. McKenzie

Alumni Distinguished Professor of Genetics
Undergraduate Coordinator of the Genetics Department

Undergraduate Teaching and Advising, Genetics Undergraduate Minor, Human Genetics, Genetic Toxicology

My primary interests and responsibilities involve undergraduate education in genetics. I teach the GN 301: Genetics in Human Affairs course. GN 301 is a three-hour, free elective, science, technology, and society course with annual enrollments exceeding 700. Students come from a wide range of disciplines, e.g., Pre-med, Sociology, English and Engineering and many others. In GN 301, the science of genetics is presented at a level sufficient to meaningfully address biological, social and ethical aspects and issues with regard to birth defects, prenatal testing, genetic screening of newborns, cancer, mutagen exposure, racial variation, human evolution, the human genome project, and gene therapy, as well as to gain an enhanced appreciation for the complexity of normal human development.

Together with Dr. Ted H. Emigh, I teach the GN 504: Human Genetics course. GN 504 focuses on current research in human and medical genetics; enrollments are generally 15 - 25 per year and include graduate and undergraduate students.

Since 1988, the Department of Genetics has provided a Minor in Genetics for undergraduate students. I administer the Genetics Minor and advise those enrolled in the Program. The Genetics Minor enables students to become better prepared in Genetics and Molecular Biology as well as in ancillary fields such as Statistics, and Biochemistry. The Genetics Minor requires 18 credit hours, 15 specified and three elective. More than 50 undergraduate students per year complete the Genetics Minor. The majority of these students pursue graduate or medical school with career aspirations in genetics; others move directly into employment, often as technicians in genetics research laboratories.

My research interests are in human genetics and genetic toxicology; in particular, my laboratory has studied human chromosome variations induced by exposure to environmental pollutants and drugs used in cancer chemotherapy. However, I do not have an active research laboratory at present.

Selected Publications:

McKenzie, W.H. (2001) Genetics in Human Affairs. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, pp. 1-210.

McKenzie, W.H. (2001) New President's Charge. Phi Kappa Phi Triennial Convention Proceedings, pp. 1-2.

McKenzie, W.H. (2001) President's Corner. Phi Kappa Phi Focus, pp. 4.

McKenzie, W.H. (2000) Initiations: making them excellent. Proceedings of the Phi Kappa Phi North Central Region Mid-Triennial Conference, pp. 57-62.

McKenzie, W.H. (2000) 2001 Triennial Convention, Indianapolis, IN: August 9-11, 2001. Proceedings of the Phi Kappa Phi North Central Region Mid-Triennial Conference, pp. 68-69.

McKenzie, W.H. (2000) Increasing initiation acceptance rates. Proceedings of the Phi Kappa Phi Northeastern Region Midtriennial Conference, pp. 49-56.

McKenzie, W.H. (2000) 2001 Triennial Convention. Proceedings of the Phi Kappa Phi Northeastern Midtriennial Conference, pp. 73-74.

McKenzie, W.H. (1999) Increasing initiation acceptance rates. Proceedings of the Phi Kappa Phi South Central Region Midtriennial Conference, pp. 29-41.

McKenzie, W.H. (1999) Increasing faculty and student participation. Proceedings of the Phi Kappa Phi Western Region Midtriennial Conference, pp. 101-113.

McKenzie, W.H. (1998) GN301 Genetics in Human Affairs: Course Materials and Notes. Third Edition. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, pp.1-257.

McKenzie, W.H. (1998) Increasing initiation acceptance rates and member participation. Phi Kappa Phi Brochure, pp. 1-6.

For more information contact:

Dr. Wendell McKenzie
Department of Genetics
N.C. State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7614
Tel: (919) 515-5722
E-mail: wendell_mckenzie@ncsu.edu

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