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Unit Summary

Unit type

UG Coursework Unit

Credit points

12

AQF level

7

Level of learning

Intermediate

Former School/College

Former School of Environment, Science and Engineering

Pre-requisites

BIO00201 - Biology

Unit aim

Humankind relies heavily on the application of genetic principles for the production of food, fibre, timber, animal feed, effective medicines and disease diagnosis. This unit provides an introduction to the principles of genetics – the science of heredity. We also explore the genetic basis of evolutionary change, practice interpreting genetic information for conservation management, and conclude with a discussion of biotechnology and the discoveries (and potential) of the genomics era.

Unit content

Importance of genetics

Mendelian inheritance

Chromosome theory of inheritance

Recombination & linkage

Genetic linkage mapping

The nature of the gene

Mutation

Mutation detection

Population genetics

Evolutionary genetics

Selective breeding

Genomics, biotechnology and importance of genetics revisited.

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

GA1: , GA2: , GA3: , GA4: , GA5: , GA6: , GA7:
On completion of this unit, students should be able to: GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 Demonstrate an understanding of single gene inheritance, segregation, linkage and recombination.
2 Calculate recombination fractions and map genes.
3 Describe the nature of the gene and define genetic mutations.
4 Apply the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium to predict genotype frequencies
5 Interpret genetic information for decision making in plant or animal conservation.
6 Define genetic diversity, natural selection and genetic drift
7 Demonstrate an understanding of selective breeding

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of single gene inheritance, segregation, linkage and recombination.
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  2. Calculate recombination fractions and map genes.
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  3. Describe the nature of the gene and define genetic mutations.
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  4. Apply the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium to predict genotype frequencies
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  5. Interpret genetic information for decision making in plant or animal conservation.
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  6. Define genetic diversity, natural selection and genetic drift
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  7. Demonstrate an understanding of selective breeding
    • GA1:
    • GA4:

Prescribed texts

  • Study guide information relates to this textbook only: Benjamin A. Pierce, 2014, Genetics: A Conceptual Approach, Fifth Edition, W. H. Freeman, New York. ISBN: 978-1-4641-0946-1.
Prescribed texts may change in future teaching periods.