Overview

This module is designed to give students an appreciation of the complexity of eucaryotic genomes. Topic covered include genome organisation, epigenetic modifications, mitochondrial disease and their treatments, DNA fingerprinting and its theoretical basis, replication slippage causing human disease, RNA splicing as a means of generating proteome diversity, post transcriptional gene silencing and siRNAs, the technology of CRISPR-Cas9, plant genetic modification using A. tumefaciens, the use of this to produce crop products beneficial for human health, and finally the use of reporter genes such as GFP and B glucuronidase to investigate gene function.

The molecular biology practicals are designed to give practical experience in applied molecular methodologies covering a range of key technologies including the isolation of human DNA from cheek cells, restriction enzyme digestion of DNA, agarose gel electrophoresis, the polymerase chain reaction, the analysis of human single nucleotide polymorphisms and the analysis of genetically modified foods.

There is no need for a "content warning" for the two practicals associated with this module.

The lectures build on the 1st year "Principles of Life 1" module. Subjects covered include the organisation of the eucaryotic genome, DNA fingerprinting, human genetic defects, genome editing, the use of reporter genes etc.

The molecular biology practicals are designed to give experience in applied molecular methodologies covering a range of key technologies including the isolation of human DNA from cheek cells, restriction enzyme digestion of DNA, agarose gel electrophoresis, the polymerase chain reaction, the analysis of genetically modified plants etc

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -(D+) A threshold student should have a basic knowledge of the essential facts and key concepts of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry. The student should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the links between DNA, RNA and Proteins. A knowledge of the types of molecules that comprise life as well as how they are formed, what they do in the organism and how many can be exploited commercially.

-good -{B+) A good student should have a thorough factual knowledge across all aspects of Molecular Biology. The student should demonstrate an ability to think critically about the subject.

-excellent -(A+) An excellent student should fulfil all the criteria for a good student and also demonstrate the ability to understand and integrate information acquired from other sources (e.g. literature or online resources)

Learning Outcomes

• Analyse the data produced in the practicals and use this to produce reports which are well organised, consisting of subheadings, graphs , annotated and labelled figures, discussion , conclusion and references in the Harvard format.

• Critically appraise how the eucaryotic genome is organised and how different aspects of the genome contribute to human disease, plant genetic modification and gene function. Understanding will be assessed by an in person examination.

• Demonstrate the ability to successfully undertake common molecular biological techniques such as pipetting, dilution, setting up enzymatic reactions, polymerase chain reaction, DNA isolation, and gel electrophoresis. This will be assessed by two practicals.

• Demonstrate the ability to use practical techniques used in molecular biology such as, Northern / Southern / Western hybridisation, the Polymerase chain reaction , Gel analysis , the construction of transgenics, the detection of foreign DNA in food products etc. This will be assessed via two practical write ups.