*The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (see
Withdrawal dates explained for more information).
Genetics forms the nexus between human biology and the environment with almost every human disease having a genetic component. This course covers the basic tenets of human genetics, introducing genetic concepts as they evolved over the history of the discipline and expanding them throughout the course. This will lead through discussions on: cytogenetics and chromosome disorders, sex-linked diseases, trinucleotide repeat expansion diseases, simple Mendelian diseases, and the genetic complexity of some common human diseases such as diabetes and cancer. The role of the Human Genome and Hapmap projects, in our current understanding of genetic disease will also be introduced with the statistical and technological base of this new genetics being discussed. Specialist topics will also be explored including epigenetics, cancer genetics, population genetics, mitochondrial genetics, gene therapy and finally genetic counselling. Key concepts that will be covered include: segregation, linkage analysis, and the role of animal models in our understanding of human genetics.
This unit is taught by a group of research geneticists working at the Menzies Research Institute and provides a very useful introduction to the field of human genetics.
Students are required to spend approximately 5 hours per week in self-directed reading and on tutorial assignments.
For all enquiries about this unit please contact Ceri Flowers on 03 6226 7702 or ceri.flowers@utas.edu.au.
WEIGHT:
12.5%
ASSESSMENT: 12 weekly assignments (40%), 3 hour examination (60%)
Students are expected to undertake all assessment tasks. Failure to complete internal assessment tasks may result in exclusion from the end of semester examination.
TEACHING PATTERN:
2 x 1 hr lectures and 1 x 1 hr tutorial per week. This unit recommends that students spend approximately 5 hours of non-contact time on recommended reading and tutorial assignments each week.
Units are offered in attending mode unless otherwise indicated (that is attendance is required at the campus identified). A unit identified as offered by distance, that is there is no requirement for attendance, is identified with a nominal enrolment campus. A unit offered to both attending students and by distance from the same campus is identified as having both modes of study.
Campus - H Hobart, L Launceston, W Burnie. Study Centre - V Sydney, R Rozelle, P Beauty Point. Distance units may also have a campus identifier of I Isolated, N Interstate, O Overseas. Units delivered in Transnational Education (TNE) Programs have a campus identifier of A Hangzhou, F Fuzhou, G Shanghai, K KDU Malaysia, Q Kuwait or Y Hong Kong.
Special approval is required for enrolment into TNE Program units - campuses A, F, G, K, Q and Y click here for more information.
