BIO120 Genetics

Credits (ECTS):10

Course responsible:Stefano Zanotto, Marian Schubert

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Norsk

Course frequency:Annually

Nominal workload:250 hours

Teaching and exam period:This course starts in Spring parallel. This course has teaching/evaluation in Spring parallel.

About this course

The following topics will be covered: Mitosis and Meiosis, Mendelian Genetics, Modification of Mendelian Ratios, Chromosome Mutations: Variation in Number and Arrangement, Linkage and Chromosome Mapping in Eukaryotes, DNA Structure and Analysis, DNA Replication and Synthesis, Chromosome Structure and DNA Sequence Organization, The Genetic Code and Transcription, Translation and Proteins, Gene Mutation, DNA repair, and Transposition, Recombinant DNA Technology, Quantitative Genetics, Population Genetics, Evolutionary Genetics and Conservation Genetics.

The exercises include demonstrations, calculations, lab exercises and are intended to give the students practice in conducting basic genetic analysis and experience in central techniques of molecular biology.

Learning outcome

This course gives the student basic knowledge in

  1. Classical genetics
  2. Molecular genetics
  3. Population and quantitative genetics

Knowledge

The student

  • Can describe processes involved in mitosis and meiosis and explain the consequences of crossing over in meiosis.
  • Can explain how Mendel's postulates describe the inheritance of certain traits, give examples of deviations from Mendelian ratios, and explain what is meant by quantitative inheritance.
  • Can describe the structure of proteins, genes, chromosomes and DNA, and explain processes involved in replication, transcription and translation.
  • Can explain how transcription and translation are regulated in prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
  • Can describe how mutations at chromosome and gene level occur and give examples of how this can affect phenotype.
  • Can describe basic and new methods in recombinant DNA technology.
  • Can describe the main principles behind different types of sequence data (at DNA, RNA and protein level) and bioinformatics.
  • Can explain the assumptions, uses and limitations of the Hardy-Weinberg law.
  • Can describe how allele and genotype frequencies vary, and how this can lead to isolated populations and new species over time.
  • Can elucidate genetic mechanisms important for ecology and nature management.
  • Skills

    The student

    • Can apply formulas and simple statistical methods to, among other things, determine geno- and phenotype frequencies, the order of genes on a chromosome, calculate heritability for quantitative traits, and investigate changes in allele- and genotype frequencies.
    • Can interpret important terms in classical genetics, molecular genetics, population- and quantitative genetics as a preparation for more advanced subjects in biotechnology, microbiology, molecular biology and genetics.
    • Can carry out practical experiments in genetics, and report and evaluate the results.
    • Transferrable skills

      The student

      • Can collaborate with other students and present own work.
      • Can evaluate own and other students' work.
      • Can use feedback on own achievements to further develop own knowledge.
      • Can meet deadlines.
  • Lectures, cooperative learning, evaluation of the work of others, and practical training. The practical training consists of calculations, review of exercises and lab work. In one part of the curriculum we will use cooperative learning and peer evaluation. The students will work together in groups over five weeks. The students will do a variety of student active learning activities as defining basic concepts, make concept charts, prepare and present a presentation and evaluate the presentation of other students.
  • Supervision is given in connection with the lectures and course work. During the weeks of cooperative learning and peer evaluation the students will be followed by a mentor that will help the students both with the curriculum and the learning process.
  • The students will receive a grade for the part of the curriculum that is taught as cooperative learning. This grade is based on points that the students collect through the different activities in the module. This part of the curriculum will not be part of the final exam. The grade received from cooperative learning accounts for 25% of the final grade.

    The parts of the curriculum that are not covered by cooperative learning will be tested in a final exam of 3 hours. This exam will account for 75% of the final grade and is graded A-F. The final exam is a multiple choice test. Permitted aids code B1.

  • The examiner will be involved in the planning, revision and approval of the exam questions and distribution of grade scale.
  • Attendance at exercises is compulsory. The part of the curriculum that is taught as cooperative learning is compulsory. The students must submit a lab journal from the molecular genetics lab exercise. This must be approved.
  • The course is under evaluation. Changes in learning activities, mandatory activities and assessments may occur.
  • Lectures: 40 hours. Exercises: 3 hours per week for 9 weeks, 27 hours in total. Self-studies: 183 hours
  • Letter grades
  • Special requirements in Science