Genetics - BIO00028C
Module summary
Genetics involves the study of genes, genetic variation and heredity and is of fundamental importance to all areas of biology. In the module we will examine the structure of nucleic acids and how the information coded in genomes is transcribed and then translated into proteins. We will consider heredity, including Mendelian genetics and human disease pedigrees before extending into how genes can interact to produce different phenotypes, and the important role of the environment. We will look at genetic variation, how it arises and how it changes over time. This will involve focusing on key concepts in population genetics and phylogenetics that give important insights into mechanisms of evolutionary change. The module will also consider the molecular tools that geneticists use and how these have been used to uncover the content of diverse genomes.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 1 2025-26 |
Module aims
The aim of the module is to establish a broad foundation in Genetics that can be built upon in subsequent modules. We will focus on core concepts of molecular, classical and population genetics and use diverse examples relevant across the biological and biomedical sciences. There will be a strong emphasis on developing problem solving skills. We will use case studies to connect concepts across the module and also to highlight ethical issues in research and clinical genetics.
Module learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this module will be able to:
Recognize how the structure of nucleic acids relates to function
Solve molecular biology problems by applying knowledge of DNA replication, transcription, translation and DNA manipulation techniques
Solve basic Mendelian genetics problems by applying knowledge of how genetic material is transmitted
Explain how interactions between genes, and between genes and the environment, can influence phenotype, and interpret examples of genetic inheritance
Explain the main processes that lead to evolutionary change, and employ simple population genetics and phylogenetic methods to illustrate them
Assess ethical issues in genetics
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled) | 100.0 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled) | 100.0 |
Module feedback
Marks for all summative assessments will be made available to you and
your supervisor via e:vision. Feedback will be either individual or
cohort-level, depending on the assessment format. You should take the
opportunity to discuss your marks and feedback with your
supervisor.
For exam-style summative assessment, model
answers will be provided for all questions along with cohort-level
feedback indicating how students answered questions in general. Marks
achieved per question will be added to your script.
For
coursework assessments (eg. reports or essays) you will receive
individual feedback on your work. This will usually be in the form of
a feedback sheet that will include suggestions for further
improvement.
During the teaching of the module you will
receive formative feedback that may be at a whole class or individual
level. Such feedback may include: model answers and discussion of
workshop questions, summaries of performance in practicals, VLE-based
quizzes, individual spoken comments during workshops, individual
written comments on formative work.
Indicative reading
These are available through the VLE module site.