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On successful completion of this course students should be able to:

1.    Understand the underlying conceptual framework regarding  the regulation of genes and how research expands our knowledge in this area

2.    Understand the underlying conceptual framework regarding  how genes control embryo development and how research expands our knowledge in this area

3.    Understand the underlying conceptual framework regarding  human genetics and how research expands our knowledge in this area

4.    Research the scientific literature to comprehend and analyse scientific research data described in peer-reviewed journals

5.    Record laboratory research notes, analyse and evaluate experimental data and synthesise reports on such data

6.    Extract relevant information from literature databases for synthesis and presentation in written or oral form

This course will require the following texts and other resources:

 Text for Human Genetics lectures: 'Human Molecular Genetics - 4th Edition' by Strachan
and Read.

Copies of scientific papers for Gene Regulation and Developmental Genetics aspects of the
course (supplied by the lecturers)

Collaborating research laboratories

Practical manuals (if doing genetics/molecular biology laboratory  practical work. These are supplied by lecturer/s running each practical)

Practical Laboratories (if doing the practical)

Scientific equipment

Lecture theatres and tutorial rooms

Access to University Library

Access to computers and internet including a portable internet-capable device during workshops

Students must supply laboratory coat and safety glasses for their own use

This course will be delivered by the following means:

“Pre-workshop” material in the form of pre-recorded lectures or assigned reading material etc. 8 hours per week (includes revision of delivered material).

 4 workshops of 1 hour each per week. During the workshops the “pre-workshop” material is reviewed (and any students’ questions on this answered). To reinforce and extend student learning, issues in genetics are discussed, data in scientific papers are analysed and problem-solving exercises are conducted. Each workshop includes an up to 10 minute in-workshop summative and formative test reviewing previous learning. Four of the up to 48 possible workshop sessions will be given over to a summative test on the material delivered during the previous 3 weeks

 72 hours of laboratory/other practical work per semester.

A student enrolled in a 6 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 24 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., workshops and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., watching pre-workshop recorded presentations, reading, and revision).

Material taught in this course has been organised around the theme of genes – how they function and their roles in animal and plant development and disease. The aim is to give an appreciation, at an advanced level, of the mechanisms that control gene expression, the genetic determination of developmental pathways, the various types of human genetic mutation that lead to disease and the pathogenic pathways from genotype to phenotype.

The particular topics covered by the participating lecturers may differ from year to year depending upon e.g. advances in the science.

Workshops 
Workshops will be conducted in the “flipped lecture” format where students are assigned pre-workshop material to assimilate (e.g. a recorded lecture and/or a particular scientific paper etc. to read before attending the next workshop) and they then discuss the material/engage in exercises to reinforce and extend their understanding of the delivered content in the workshop. (This may include delivery of additional material by the lecturer.) Each workshop will include a short written (paper-based) or on-line summative and formative assessment on material delivered in the current and previous workshops and on the pre-workshop material. Once every three weeks an entire workshop will be given over to an on-line summative test of the previous three weeks’ material.

Laboratory placement (or Practical classes and other work)
For the laboratory placement, students are hosted, under supervision, in a biomedical research laboratory for a total of at least 72 hours of laboratory time. They will have a research project to perform and will also research the scientific literature to synthesise a review appropriate to the project and, at the end, a report describing and evaluating the work done and the results. Students who do not obtain a laboratory placement will perform an alternative set of tasks. They will be given a “focus genetic disease” as a central research theme and will then synthesise a written review of the scientific literature on this disease, synthesise and present an essay on current and possible future treatment options for the disease and present a case study of the disease orally. They will also perform the equivalent of 24 hours of genetics/molecular biology laboratory practical work consisting of small research projects requiring recording of research data followed by analysis and evaluation.

Assessment task	Type of assessment	Percentage of total assessment for grading purposes #	Hurdle Yes or No #	Outcomes being assessed / achieved	Approximate Timing of Assessment
Short tests in each workshop	Formative/Summative	35%	No	1, 2, 3, 4	Weeks 1-12
1-hour, on-line examination every three weeks	Summative	15%	No	1, 2, 3, 4	Weeks 3, 6, 9, 12
For laboratory placement:
Literature review	Formative/Summative	20%	No	4, 6	Week 8
Research report	Summative	20%	No	4, 5, 6	Week 12
Supervisor assessment	Summative	10%	No	5	Week 12
For Focus Genetic Disease work:
Literature Review	Summative/Formative	15%	No	4, 6	Week 7
Oral presentation	Formative/Summative	10%	No	4, 6	Week 12
Lab practical Report	Summative/Formative	15%	No	5, 6	Week 5
Essay	Summative/Formative	10%	No	4, 6	Week 10

Either:

1. For those with Laboratory Placements:

Literature review for laboratory placement project (20% of course grade) ~2,500 words and fully referenced on the background to the laboratory project. This is due at the end of week 8 (Formative and summative assessment).

The course co-ordinator will call for all placement laboratory hosts to interview their students at the end of week 5 to provide feedback to them about how they are progressing in their laboratory work and to discuss progress in writing the literature review.

Research Report on laboratory placement project (20% of course grade). ~2,000 words (plus figures) describing and discussing the research project results. This is due at the end of the semester (Summative assessment).

Supervisor assessment (10% of course grade) of general approach to laboratory work and the skills displayed in the laboratory. (Summative assessment)

Or:

2. For Focused Genetic Disease work (study of a particular genetic disease):

4 weeks (6 x 4 hour sessions) of Developmental Genetics laboratory practical work (15% of course grade, summative assessment and formative assessment, Learning objectives 2,4,5.)

Literature review of the focus genetic disease (15% of the course grade) ~2,500 words and fully referenced on the background to the focus genetic disease. (Summative and formative assessment)

Essay on current treatments and future treatment options/possibilities for the focus genetic disease (10% of the course grade) ~1,500 words and fully referenced. (Summative assessment)

Oral presentation (Powerpoint) of a case study of a person with the focus genetic disease (10% of the course grade, summative assessment).

 
For all students:

Tests in workshops (total 35% of course grade, Learning Objectives 1, 2, 3, 4). Up to ten minutes during each workshop will be devoted to answering questions assessing material in that and previous workshops and the pre-workshop material. This will test and reinforce students’ understanding of the course material. To avoid problems with students occasionally missing workshops (due to course clashes or illness), a student’s final accumulated mark for these examinations will be made up of their best 30 workshop examination scores (from the possible 43 examinations). A generous length of time will be allowed for completion of the questions. (Formative and summative assessment.)

Extended 1 hour, multiple choice question (MCQ) examinations conducted online (total 15% of course grade, Learning Objectives 1, 2, 3, 4). These will be held in Weeks 3, 6, 9, and 12 and will examine any material delivered over the preceding three weeks. The examinations will occur during a timetabled workshop session but will not require attendance at the lecture theatre by the student. There are four workshop sessions per week and each test will be held during a different session time. This will test and reinforce students’ understanding of the course material. To avoid problems with students unable to sit one of the 4 tests (due to course clashes or illness), a student’s final accumulated mark for these examinations will be made up of their best 3 examination scores. A generous length of time will be allowed for completion of the questions. (Summative assessment.)


There is no end-of-semester examination for this course.

Submission of Developmental Genetics Practical workbooks is into the submission box at the front desk of the Molecular Life Sciences Building. Submission of other essays is via MyUni and will include checking for plagiarism by Turnitin. Details on submission are provided in the Course Handbook and/or Practical manuals etc.


Late submission of assessments

If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply.  A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied.  This means that an assignment that is 5 days or more late without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the mark.