HUMAN GENETICS IN THE 21ST CENTURY - 2021/2

Module Overview

The purpose of this module is to give students a clear view of how and where genetics is used in the ‘real world’. This module will build on the basics of molecular biology and genetics taught in Levels 4 and 5, and will expect students to utilise this prior knowledge and content given in lectures and in the problem-based learning assessments.

Module provider

School of Biosciences and Medicine

Module Leader

BAILEY Sarah (Biosc & Med)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

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

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

BMS1047. BMS2036 is recommended.  

Module content

Indicative content includes:

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  Inheritance patterns and interpretation of pedigree trees.
  


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  Methods used to identify & distinguish between mutations and their application in human diseases.
  


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  Use of bioinformatics to compare & contrast gene sequences across multiple species or from multiple sources.
  


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  Inheritance of epigenetic control of gene expression.
  


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  Human genetic disease diagnostics (to include ethics and genetic counselling)
  


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  Diagnostic tools for identification of somatic cancer cell genetics.
  


• Human complex disease research and the effects of the environment and genes on these

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

None

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate a clear and deep understanding of the different aspects of genetics in the 21st century, and to show their independent learning skills acquired during the course.

Three summative assessment for this module consists of:

Two group assignments and one piece of individual work based on the group-work PBL. These will be based on a case study or problem based learning approach, covering three different aspects of the course, deadlines will be dispersed evenly across the semester (33.3% of mark each). This will test the students’ ability to communicate clearly and concisely, which of course is a very important skill for a scientist.

Use of small-group PBL sessions will provide opportunity for peer feedback. Students will be able to assess his/her progress/performance against the class, because the group assessment sessions will be interactive.

There will be a formal class debate on some aspect of the ethics of genetics – this will be voluntary, but students who participate would gain immediate formative feedback as to their levels of knowledge and understanding.

Module aims

• Enable the students to gain a clear and deep understanding of use of bioinformatics to identify genetic abnormalities and interrogate their effects.
• Enable the students to gain a clear and deep understanding of epigenetic signature inheritance & influence on phenotype.
• Enable the students to gain a clear and deep understanding of inheritance patterns and ability to predict heritability of a trait.
• Enable the students to gain a clear and deep understanding of human genetic disease diagnostics (including ethics & genetic counselling)
• Enable the students to gain a clear and deep understanding of human cancer somatic molecular genetic diagnostics
• Enable the students to gain a clear and deep understanding of human complex (genes/environment) disease research

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to: enable students to be independent learners and thereby gain a deep understanding of genetics as it is actually used today.

The learning and teaching methods include:

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  Lectures
  


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  Class tutorials, using the ‘flipped classroom’ approach; facilitated, small-group, PBL sessions
  


• 
  revision tutorials
  


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  Peer-assisted learning will be achieved through group work for PBL sessions
  


• 
  Formal class debate on an aspect of the ethics of genetics
  

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: BMS3093

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.