Overview

In this topic students will learn fundamental concepts about genes and genomics that form the core of current molecular approaches that are now used to study biological processes. Students will review the central dogma of molecular biology DNA to RNA to protein and then go on to explore in more … For more content click the Read More button below.

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Tuition pattern

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Aims

This topic aims to:

  • Familiarise students with recombinant DNA technology and how it is applied to gene discovery and understanding more about the function of genes and proteins. A particular emphasis will be placed on the Human genome project and how in recent years we have moved to study genes and gene interactions on more global scale and how bioinformatics had aided this
  • Further develop students' scientific skills for work in a molecular biology laboratory
  • Further develop students' generic skills in the areas of accurate record keeping (attention to detail), creativity and problem-solving, independence, using online resources, communication to scientific and non-scientific audiences and critical thinking

Learning outcomes

On completion of this topic you will be expected to be able to:
1.
Understand advanced concepts in molecular biology regarding the synthesis and regulation of DNA, RNA and proteins
2.
Advance your knowledge of how DNA and genomics techniques of the past and the present including those used for sequencing are used to diagnose and understand the pathology of human, animal and plant diseases; develop new disease treatments; underpin approaches to personalised medicine and in numerous ways to benefit society
3.
Deeply appreciate how essential bioinformatics and information technology are to genomics research
4.
Further your awareness and ability to use bioinformatic programs including online and stand-alone software to enable database searches for DNA and protein sequences and construct sequence alignments
5.
Articulate and address different critical issues in genomic and DNA based research and to present and communicate these issues, DNA based data and scientific ideas to both scientific and non-scientific audiences
6.
Demonstrate practical and numerical skills required for the preparation of laboratory reagents, interpretating DNA and RNA experiments and conducting independent laboratory work
7.
Advance your understanding of the inherent challenges in working with DNA and RNA in the laboratory and increase your awareness of the importance of using appropriate controls
8.
Maintain a laboratory notebook such that others can reproduce your work and present your experimental results in tables and figures in a format suitable for a thesis or scientific journal

Assessments

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Requisites information

Anti-requisites:

Assumed knowledge

Second year undergraduate level molecular biology.

Additional information

Other topic information

Students who attain less than 85% in the Aptitude test are directed to enrol in BTEC8002 Molecular Biotechnology.