Unit name | Gene expression and rearrangement |
---|---|
Unit code | MOLG22200 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | I/5 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
Unit director | Professor. Kuwabara |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School of Biochemistry |
Faculty | Faculty of Life Sciences |
This unit covers the processes involved in maintaining and expressing the genetic material of microorganisms and animals. Topics covered include: DNA-protein interactions; mechanisms of DNA replication, recombination and repair; eukaryotic and prokaryotic gene expression; protein synthesis; transposable DNA elements; generation of immune diversity by rearrangement of immunoglobulin genes; regulatory RNA; viruses and cancer. Lectures are supplemented with four practical sessions and two tutorials. Assessment is by sessional examination (80%), assessed exercises associated with the tutorials (10%) and laboratory reports (10%). Some prior knowledge of molecular biology (eg equivalent to Biochemistry: Cellular Composition) is recommended.
The main aims of this Unit are to provide students with a good understanding of (i) the mechanisms by which prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells replicate, repair and express their genetic material, and (ii) the importance of these processes in diseased and healthy cells. Further aims are to provide you with practical experience in a range of relevant laboratory techniques, and to improve your ability to critically assess experimental data.
Learning outcomes: knowledge and understanding
Upon completion of this course you should understand, and be able to explain:
Learning outcomes: Skills
Upon completion of this course you should have acquired the skills necessary to:
Lectures, tutorials and practicals
Continual assessment:
20% of the total marks for the unit are awarded on the basis of assessment exercises. Thus 5% of the final assessment mark is awarded for a data-handling exercise, 5% is awarded for the combined mark for two assessed essays, and 10% is awarded for the combined mark for practical write-ups.
Sessional exam:
80% of the total marks for the unit are awarded for performance in the unit examination in May/June, which will consist of one 2.5-hour paper. The paper is split into three sections: the first section (40% of the exam marks) will comprise 50 multiple choice questions (MCQs); the second section (30% of the exam marks) will contain three essay questions of which candidates will be asked to answer one; the third section (30% of the exam marks) will contain three essay questions of which candidates will be asked to answer one.
"Molecular Biology of the Gene" 7th ed. (2013) by J. Watson et al. (Pearson)
or
"Genomes 4". (2018) by T.Brown (Garland Science)
or
"Lewin’s Genes X" (2009), by J Krebs et al. (Jones & Bartlett).