Module Code - Title:
BM4244
-
MEDICAL GENETICS
Year Last Offered:
N/A
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
N
Prerequisite Modules:
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
The module builds on cell biology introduced in year one Foundations in Biological Science. The purpose of this module is to give students an understanding of the mechanisms underlying genetic inheritance at organism, gene and molecular levels in the context of health and illness. This module is tailored specifically to the needs of second year medical students who will be moving onto the case-based KHI curriculum in years 3 and 4. The module will focus on introducing medical students to the clinical applications of genetics and introduce the use of case studies and clinically focused lectures/tutorials to ensure that students will be able to apply this knowledge to understand how medical conditions are diagnosed and treated..
Syllabus:
The module will begin with an overview of the building blocks of DNA and move into topics of gene regulation and mutations. The following is indicative of the content to be covered in this syllabus:
• Nucleic Acids and DNA • DNA sequencing • Central Dogma • DNA replication, transcription, translation in medicine • Regulation of gene expression in health and disease • Gene variance/ heritability and genetic disorders • Medical ethics and genetic counselling
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
• Describe transcription and translation of genetic information in detail including the way (i) transcription is regulated and (ii) genetic decisions are made,
• Explain laws of inheritance of human traits,
• Discuss genetic and environmental mutations and clarify their role in human pathologies,
• Discuss how protein structure and mutations relate to protein function
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
• Acknowledge the ethical issues and implications of genetic research and its implementation.
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
N/A
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
The curriculum has been designed to foster enquiry and self-directed learning among students, by ensuring a research informed curriculum and encouraging discussion within a supportive learning environment.
This module will be taught via lecture, labs and tutorial employing a case study approach that takes science into clinical practice. Outside this formal contact the student will be encouraged to develop skills in acquiring information as individual learners as well as working in group learning teams.
This module addresses the graduate attributes of curious (providing knowledge and critical thinking), agile (developing the independent and adaptive learner), responsible (ethically) and articulate (developing inter and intra-personal and collaborative skills).
The ethos across the curriculum is to ensure research led teaching Lecture content will be constantly updated to incorporate new findings in the field of Medical Genetics and applications.
Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):
Prime Texts:
Jocelyn E. Krebs, PhD; Elliott S. Goldstein, PhD; Stephen T. Kilpatrick, PhD (2018)
Lewin's GENES XII. Twelfth Edition
, Jones and Bartlett Learning
Other Relevant Texts:
R Lewis (2024)
Human Genetics
, McGraw Hill
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
BMMESUUFA - BACHELOR OF MEDICINE BACHELOR OF SURGERY
Semester(s) Module is Offered:
Spring
Module Leader:
Patrick.Kiely@ul.ie