MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS: FROM GENES TO BIOLOGICAL FUNCTION - 2021/2

Module Overview

The purpose of this module is to introduce to the students the ways in which biological function is controlled through control of gene expression at different levels. This module will help the students to both acquire core theoretical core knowledge and key practical skills.

Module provider

School of Biosciences and Medicine

Module Leader

ASIM Mohammad (Biosc & Med)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 5

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Indicative content includes:





Conceptual Foundations




Model organisms and their genomes




Transgenesis




The human genome




Human evolution




Normal variation




Personalised genomics




Isolating and sequencing single genes




Microarrays




GWAS




Whole-genome and whole-exome sequencing




Gene therapy and CRISPR




DNA repair and recombination




The genetic basis of cancer




Deregulation of the cell cycle and genome maintenance pathways in cancer




Genomics tutorial




Overview of eukaryotic gene control, RNA poly II promoters and general TFs




Cis-regions and transcription factors, molecular mechanisms of repression and activation




Regulation of translation factor activity, other transcription systems




RNA processing in the nucleus




Life and death of RNA in the cytoplasm




Molecular mechanisms of translation




Regulation of transcription factor activity




Global regulation of translation




Gene expression profiling




Epigenetic regulation of transcription




The epigenome




Integrative genomics




Transcriptomics tutorial

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

If practical components require re-assessment there will be a written exam to assess the underlying principles of the appropriate learning outcomes. This will reflect the material covered in the original assessment and will carry the same weighting.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate understanding of the topic, and ability to find, evaluate and use material to answer the coursework questions.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Coursework: Practical write-up. Submission deadline 2 weeks after last practical session. Provisional deadlines will be Tuesday week 11  (group 1). Tuesday week 13 (group 2), and Tuesday week 15 (group 3)


• Examination (2 hours): 50 MCQ and 2 essay-type questions

Module aims

• Advance the student's understanding of the inheritance and function of genes, and some of the major methodologies applied to their study, especially in relation to eukaryotes and in particular our own species.
• The origins and nature of genetic variation
• Methods for studying genomes and transcriptomes
• Genomic manipulation
• The genetic basis of cancer
• Eukaryotic gene control
• The process of transcription and its regulation
• Epitnetic mechanisms
• Laboratory analysis of gene expression
• Introduce the student to basic molecular biology techniques.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Provide the basic information to understand the principles and concepts of gene organisation and expression, and methods and approaches employed in cloning genes and stuying their expression, and help the students to acquire hands on experimental skills. Methods and approaches will be taught specifically in the context of the theory (e g in the form of case studies).

The learning and teaching methods include:

• 
  Lectures (30 hours), tutorials (5 hours)
  
  Lab practical sessions (9 hours over two weeks)
  

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: BMS2036

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.