Key facts

Type	Weekly Classes
Location	Oxford
Address	Ewert House Ewert Place Summertown Oxford
Dates	Tue 15 Jan to Tue 19 Mar 2013 Day: Tuesday Time of meeting: 7.00-9.00pm Number of meetings: 10
Subject area(s)	Biological Sciences
CATS points	10
Fees	From £165.00
Application status	Course ended
Course code	O12P933BIW
Course contact	If you have any questions about this course, please email ppweekly@conted.ox.ac.uk.

Overview

In this introduction to genetics course we look at the science of genes, inheritance and variation in living organisms. We use examples ranging from plant pigments to human diseases to illustrate these principles.

Description

The introduction to genetics course aims to give students a broad overview of the study of genetics. The course begins by looking at the basic principles of inheritance using some of the same techniques that were used by Gregor Mendel, the founder of the science of genetics. we will also use example of human diseases to illustrate the principles of inheritance.

The course then moves on to look at the applications of these principles in the study of population genetics, explaining problems such as how hereditary diseases can persist in a population subject to natural selection. We also look at the Hardy-Weinberg principle, and examples of how an understanding of basic genetics can be used in artificial selection for the domestication and improvement of crops and livestock.

The course will finish off with an overview of DNA sequencing and how sequence data is used to answer genomic and medical questions. We will use DNA sequence data to identify disease causing alleles using online bioinformatics tools. In the final class, we will see an example of a current research project, and the sorts of questions and goals current projects are attempting to answer.

Programme details

Week 1: Introduction. Genotypes and phenotypes. Dominance.
Week 2: Mendel's laws.
Week 3: Exceptions to Mendel's laws, recombination and genetic mapping.
Week 4: Gene pathways and interactions.
Week 5: Natural and artificial selection
Week 6: Population genetics, Hardy-Weinberg
Week 7: DNA, the genetic code, and mutations.
Week 8: PCR, DNA sequencing. Online databases.
Week 9: Bioinformatics, BLAST searches, and what to do with DNA sequence data.
Week 10: 'Selfish' genetic elements, their application, and an example of a current research project.

Background Reading:
Bernard C Lamb THE APPLIED GENETICS OF HUMANS, ANIMALS, PLANTS AND FUNGI (Second Edition)
Peter J. Russell Fundamentals of genetics
Austin Burt, Robert Trivers Genes in conflict: the biology of selfish genetic elements
Anthony JF Griffiths, Jeffrey H Miller, David T Suzuki, Richard C Lewontin, and William M Gelbart. An Introduction to Genetic Analysis. online at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21766/
Terence A Brown Genomes. online at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21128/
Jean-Michel Claverie, Ph. D., Cedric Notredame, Ph.D. Bioinformatics For Dummies, 2nd Edition

National Center for Biotechnology Information: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

Staff

Course aims

Course Aim:
To understand the science of genes, inheritance and variation in living organisms.

Course Objectives:
1 To understand how genes affect individual observable characteristics and population dynamics.
2 To recognise a DNA sequence and use online bioinformatic tools to analyse it.
3 To apply this knowledge to observable traits in living organisms.

Assessment methods

Student achievement will be assessed via genetics problem sheets in which the students will apply what they have learnt during the first half of the two hour session. By the end of the course students will have built a portfolio of completed problem sheets from the three sections of the course which will form the assessment.

Teaching methods

The two hour sessions will be split up into a short PowerPoint/chalk 'n' talk lecture (~45mins) in which the tutor will provide the necessary information and background for them to complete genetics problem sheets (including both genetics questions and basic practicals such as crosses on corn cobs). These sheets contain sufficient information for the tasks to be completed but the tutor will be present to guide students individually or in smaller numbers where needed. The session will be concluded with a short talk giving an overview of the lecture and covering any notable points in the questions.

Weeks 8 and 9 will be taught in a computer room so students access the bioinformatic tools, databases and search engines required to complete their tasks.

Teaching outcomes

By the end of the course students will be expected to:
1 Understand what genes are and how they affect individual characteristics and population dynamics.
2 Have the skills to use DNA sequence data and analyse it using online tools.
3 Be able to independently build on this broad overview of genetics.

Fee options

Programme Fee

EU Fee: £165.00

Non-EU Fee: £165.00

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