Course Suitability
- This course is suitable for students who either have a BSc in human genetics or a genetics related subject, or who have completed the Biomed Analysis of Nucleic Acids module.
On completion of this course, students will:
- Appreciate the overall complexity of genomes in humans and other organisms and the nature of coding and non-coding sequences
- Understand the nature of genetic variation in humans
- Be able to interpret genetic changes and predict their clinical outcome
On completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the normal process of production of proteins from DNA and how this can go wrong to cause mutation.
- Analyse, synthesise and summarise information – in particularly be able to interpret DNA sequence in terms of the genetic code and protein production, manipulation of the DNA sequence and analysis of pedigrees
- Demonstrate and in-depth understanding of how mutations act to cause clinical conditions.
- Critically discuss current issues in molecular genetics
Indicative Content:
Intro to WebCT
- Use and navigate the functions of myWebCT.
- Explore the WebCT tools.
- Create a web page.
Topic 1. Structure of a gene, Parts 1 and 2
- Recognise the structure of nucleic acids and the steps from DNA to protein
- Appreciate the differences between prokaryotes and eukaryotes
- Describe the principles of gene regulation
Topic 2. Genes in the Genome
- Be familiar with the history and outcomes of the human genome project
- Use a range of databases available to gain information about the human genome and human genetic disorders
- Appreciate the different classes of non-coding DNA in the genome
Topic 3. DNA to RNA to protein Parts 1 and 2
- Describe features of eukaryotic gene structure
- Understand the production and processing of RNA during protein synthesis
- Demonstrate an understanding of the genetic code
Topic 4. Inheritance
- Recognise the major patterms of inheritance in humans
- Determine carrier probabilites and recurrence risks for the different pedigrees
Topic 5. Low penetrance genes
- Appreciate the differences between linkage and association
- Research and present the genetic basis of a common genetic disorder
Topic 6. How genes go wrong
- Classify mutations depending on their outcome
- Appreciate the differing effects mutations can have in the cell
- Demonstrate an understanding of the nomenclature of mutations
- Develop a critical appraisal of which gene changes are pathogenic
Topic 7. Genotype to phenotype
- Appreciate how genes may interact and compensate in causing a phenotype
- Understand how mutations in different steps of protein synthesis may alter the clinical phenotype
- Understand exceptional mechanisms such as methylation and triplet repeat expansion
Topic 8. Cancer Genetics
- Differentiate between the different genetic contributions to cancer
- Recognise the different mechanisms by which genes can cause cancer
- Understand how cells become tumorigenic
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