Module Specification
The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title APPLIED GENETIC AND MOLECULAR TECHNOLOGIES
Code LIFE108
Coordinator Dr LA Iwanejko
Musculoskeletal Biology II
Iwanejko@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2016-17 Level 4 FHEQ Second Semester 15

Pre-requisites before taking this module (other modules and/or general educational/academic requirements):
LIFE101; LIFE103; LIFE105; LIFE107; LIFE109 A-level biology or equivalent level prior learning in genetics and molecular biology 

Modules for which this module is a pre-requisite:
 

Co-requisite modules:
 

Linked Modules:
 

Teaching Schedule
  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours 26

         10

12

7

 55
Timetable (if known) Timetabled lectures
  		        Guided materials providing an opportunity for reflective and self-directed learning.
Problem solving workshops, ethical debate
In course and end of module summative assessments
  		 
Private Study 95
TOTAL HOURS 150

Assessment
EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
Written Exam  2 h  2  70  Yes    Assessment 3 Notes (applying to all assessments) In-course Assessment: 1030869 Four X 1 hour, evenly spaced, online assessments using objective assessments (e.g. multiple choice, multiple answer and extended matching questions). 1030870 Group assessment. Students will be allocated to groups and given a topic covering an ethical issue. Students will work as a group to produce a single presentation, maximum 10 minutes, delivered by one group member in a one hour, timetabled workshop. Group members will be required to record meetings and upload material to a group e-journal during the preparation of the presentation. An online peer assessment system will be employed to assess their own and their team members performance during the production of the presentation and will be used to generate indivudal marks for the assessment. 108.1030871 Final Assessment: A written examination using objective assessments (e.g. multiple choice, multiple answer and extended matching questions)  
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
Coursework  4 h  2  20  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Assessment 1 
Coursework  1 h  2  10  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Assessment 2 

Aims
This module aims to:
  1. Provide students with the knowledge and understanding of the structure of nucleic acids and how these molecules encode the properties of cells;
  2. Develop knowledge and understanding of the mechanisms that lead to inheritance in offspring;
  3. Equip students tobe able to describe the basic techniques that are used to experimentally clone genes and analyse their structure and function;
  4. Develop students'' knowledge and understanding in genetics and molecular biology, and their ability to apply, evaluate and interpret this knowledge to solve problems, in these disciplines. 
  5. Introduce students to the ethical implications of genetic and molecular technologies.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students will ba able to:

 

Explain the molecular processes that occur to produce variation in the offspring;

and how to interpret Mendelian and non-Mendelian patterns of inheritance;

Explain how to apply molecular technologies to isolate and characterise nucleic acids and design and interpret basic experiments to clone and analyse genes;

Show how molecular biology technologies might be used to solve problems in biology, food security, veterinary science and medicine;

Develop an appreciation of the ethical issues associated with genetic and molecular technologies.

Teaching and Learning Strategies

Lecture -

Timetabled lectures

Online -

Guided materials providing an opportunity for reflective and self-directed learning.

Workshop -

Problem solving workshops, ethical debate

Assessment -

In course and end of module summative assessments

Syllabus
1 

Nucleic acid structure: Review of nucleic acid structure and nomenclature, A, B, Z helices. Covalent modifications of nucleic acids, methylation.

Mutation at the molecular level: Gene expression and mutation. Genotype, phenotype and environment.

Gene cloning: Definition and applications.  Case studies. Vectors and hosts.  Enzymes as tools. Isolation of plasmid DNA. Digestion, separation and purification of fragments. Ligation and transformation. Analysis clones, selection and screening.  Blue-white screening, phosphatase treatment, analysis of clones. Hybridisation, Southern/Northern blotting

Chemical properties of NA: acid hydrolysis, alkaline hydrolysis of RNA, alkaline denaturation, urea/formamide denaturation, shearing, sonication.

Gene Libraries: cDNA, genomic libraries; principles of screening

PCR:  principles and applications in cloning, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and quantitative-PCR.

DNA sequencing: principles of dideoxy sequencing – refinements and high-throughput sequencing

Guest lecture: "Next generation" sequencing technologies – current and future impact.

Mutation and pathway analysis: Gene symbols and description of mutants. Multiple alleles. One gene - one polypeptide hypothesis. Pathway analysis.

Molecular basis of complementation: Trans-complementation in haploids.

Molecular basis of dominance: Molecular basis for complete, incomplete and co-dominance.

Meiosis and gene segregation: The correlation of meiosis and Mendelian ratios. Single factor cross. Sex linkage, sex limitation.

Complementation in diploids: Two factor cross. Diploid trans-complementation test.

Molecular basis of gene interactions: Modifications to 9: 3:3:1 explained in terms of biochemical pathways and regulatory genes. Pleiotropy.

Mendelian Genetics: Pedigree analysis.

Organelle genomes: Organelle genomes: Structure, modified genetic code, segregation and non-Mendelian inheritance.

Basic eukaryotic linkage analysis: Introduction to recombination analysis, linkage maps.

Recom binant proteins: biotechnology, expression systems, purification, fusion proteins, site-directed mutagenesis, protein-protein interactions, reporter genes

Genetically modified organisms:  transgenic animals and plants, targeted gene disruption (gene knockouts).

Medical applications:  Molecular diagnostics

Ethics: Introduction to the ethical implications associated with applied genetics and molecular biology


Recommended Texts
Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.
Explanation of Reading List: