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Module

BMD3012 : Evolutionary Genomics in Fundamental Research and the Clinic (Inactive)

  • Inactive for Year: 2025/26
  • Module Leader(s): Professor Robert Hirt
  • Co-Module Leader: Dr Sergey Melnikov
  • Lecturer: Dr Mauro Santibanez Koref, Professor Sophie Hambleton
  • Owning School: Biomedical, Nutritional and Sports Scien
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 20
ECTS Credits: 10.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

1) The module aims to develop knowledge and understanding of the fundamental importance in biological and biomedical sciences of evolutionary genomics, including its application in studying human health and disease. To provide a general understanding of how ideas from evolutionary biology inform, and are informed by, genomic science

2) To provide some deeper insights into the origin and evolution of the eukaryotic genome and the roles of gene and genome duplication, vertical inheritance, lateral gene transfer and endosymbiosis in its formation and diversification

3) To highlight how studies of parasite genomes have provided general insights into how genomes evolve as well as clues to pathogenic mechanisms and potential therapies

4) To highlight how studies of human evolutionary genomes provide important insights into the genetic basis of complex and rare diseases, including differential susceptibility to infection diseases

5) To provide knowledge and understanding of selected tools used to analyse genomes

Outline Of Syllabus

The module will cover the following topics:

1)Fundamentals of Evolution and Genetic Concepts

2) Genomic Investigation and Functional Insights: Application of ‘omics’ technologies to understand gene function and regulation

3) Phylogenetics and Evolutionary Processes: Tracing the evolution of genes, genomes, and species. The origins and evolution of eukaryotic genomes. Comparative evolutionary genomic perspectives on the tree of life and the adaptation of obligate intracellular and extracellular parasites

4) Human Microbiota in Health and Disease: The role of the human microbiota in maintaining health and its disruption in disease. Insights from metagenomics into microbial diversity and host-microbe interactions

5) Diversity and Evolution of the Human Genome: Exploring the genetic basis of human variation and evolution. Contrasting the genetic underpinnings of complex diseases with those of rare genetic disorders

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture201:0020:00Core module knowledge lectures
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching11:001:00This seminar will kick start the module to provide an overview of the content and the opus operandi of the module and key timelines: lectures delivery, workshops, in course assessments and seminars.
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesWorkshops33:009:003 PC workshops using AI.
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study1170:00170:00Includes: Assessment preparation and completion, directed research and reading
Total200:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures will provide students with key information (K1-3). This will be complemented with guided workshops to search and interpret the research literature effectively and critically, and to perform bioinformatic analyses with the help of AI tools, which will be on datasets relating to the material covered in the lectures.

The three workshops will formally train the students in using AI as a tool for research. This will include training in literature search and contribute at increased understanding of the material through discussion of journal articles (S1, S3 and S4) and will also include Q&A sessions, which together will help the student in preparing the written essay and formal examination (S5). The second workshop will be training students in using AI to perform bioinformatic analyses relating to protein structures analyses and interpret functional relevance of protein sequence variation and evolution in the context of structures. The third workshop will expand on these analyses and will be used to generate specific data to be integrated into the essay/report.

Private study will allow students to extend their knowledge through reading of journal articles and other recommended references required for the writing of the essay/report and figure/table generation (S3, S5).

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written Examination1202A602 essays questions from a choice of 4 (closed book), 60 mins per question
Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Report1M40The written report on analyses performed during workshop 3 (ICA1) (max 1000 words)
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Exam essays will allow students to consolidate their knowledge and understanding of material across the module.


Report writing (ICA): The report , includes compulsory generation of 2 illustrations and use of 1 table to synthetize data and complex concepts will test students' knowledge, understanding, written communication and illustration (2 figures and 1 table) generation skills.

Reading Lists

Timetable