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Module

BIO1020 : Genetics and Evolution

  • Offered for Year: 2020/21
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Tahar Taybi
  • Lecturer: Dr Maxim Kapralov, Dr Ankush Prashar, Dr Emmi Hall, Dr James Kitson
  • Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Semester 2 Credit Value: 20
ECTS Credits: 10.0

Aims

To develop a basic understanding of genetic principles and their application in biology.
To give an introduction to the concepts and principles of inheritance of genetic characters, their recombination and linkages.
To give a basic understanding of the genetic code and the replication of DNA.
To outline how genes are expressed into proteins, via transcription and translation.
To review the methods used to study the genetic material and how these methods are used in different applications.
To review the evidence for evolution from the fossil record, earth history, and comparisons of living organisms in terms of structure, function and genetic constitution.
To outline mechanisms for evolution, especially in terms of artificial and natural selection and genetic drift.
To explore the observational and experimental evidence for the role of these mechanisms in causing evolution.

Outline Of Syllabus

Genetics content
•       Introduction to the module: key elements of genetics and evolution.
•       Mitosis and meiosis: Cell cycle and chromosome replication.
•       Recombination and segregation, the basis of variability.
•       Transmission (Mendelian) Genetics: Key concepts and vocabulary.
•       Molecular genetics: Introduction to molecular genetics, DNA structure, Genomes, packaging of DNA, DNA replication.
•       DNA-RNA-Protein: The process of protein synthesis, transcription, structure of RNA, RNA processing in eukaryotes, Architecture of eukaryotic genes, functional importance of processing events.
•       Translation: Ribosome structure, RNA molecules, mechanism of protein synthesis.
•       Regulation of gene expression, Eukaryotic regulation.
•       Analytical techniques in molecular genetics and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).
•       Recombinant DNA technology: Components of the technology
Evolution content
•       Genome size and evolution.
•       The origin and evolutionary characteristics of chloroplasts and mitochondria..
•       Molecular clocks and molecular evolution.
•       Molecular evolution and phylogeny.
•       Phylogenetic trees.
•       Earth history, mass extinctions.
•       Human evolution.
•       Evolution by selection and drift.
•       Natural selection.
•       Causes of evolution, adaptive radiation, rates of evolution.
•       The nature of variation and evolution without selection.
•       Special types of selection and constraints on adaptation
•       Speciation mechanisms.
•       Sympatric speciation.

Teaching Methods

Module leaders are revising this content in light of the Covid 19 restrictions.
Revised and approved detail information will be available by 17 August.

Assessment Methods

Module leaders are revising this content in light of the Covid 19 restrictions.
Revised and approved detail information will be available by 17 August.

Reading Lists

Timetable