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 light of current knowledge. It is also designed to equip the students, most of whom will be aspiring second -evel teachers of biology, the necessary skill and knowledge to able to teach genetics confidently, competently and imaginatively at second level.

Extensions of Mendelian genetics - incomplete dominance and codominance, pleiotropy. Linkage; multiple alleles, multiple genes and epistasis. Quantitative characters, genetic variance and heritability. Basic laws of probability and inheritance of characters. Basic principles of plant and animal breeding. Human genetics. Introduction to population genetics. Speciation and evolution. DNA and chromosome structure and packaging. DNA replication, transcription, translation and the genetic code. Mutation causes and effects at the gene chromosome and organism levels. Recombinant DNA/RNA technology. Genomics. Proteomics. Regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes and eukaryotes; genes and cancer, cell differentiation. Bacterial and viral genetics.

On successful completion of this module, students should be able to: Specify, describe and distinguish the processes by which a cell stores and duplicates information, and the processes by which the cell converts stored information into functional units. Identify, describe and discuss the major mechanisms by which damage to and mutations in stored information occur and the way in which cells can repair this damage. Describe and discuss modern techniques in molecular biology and their application in biotechnology and research. Describe and discuss the implementation of genome level sequencing project, and specify methods used to gather information and the use of information gathered. Describe and discuss the use of a proteomic platform to study biological systems, and to specify and describe methodologies employed in proteomics. Discuss and explain regulation of gene expression in bacterial and mammalian systems. Describe and perform experimentation to isolate and distinguish between different nucleic acids and to determine the presence of a novel fragment in a plasmid vector. Utilize PCR technology to amplify a DNA fragment. Conceptualize a model of how a gene works. Solve problems in Mendelian genetics Teach genetics confidently at Leaving Cert level.

On successful completion of this module, students should be able to: Realize the central role of genetics and molecular biology in modern biology and apply this as a central guiding principle in teaching biology.

On successful completion of this module, students should be able to: Apply the laboratory skills required to isolate, quantify and amplify DNA

The module will be taught by lectures assisted by on-line resources (Sulis). There will be a two-hour practical session each week in which the student will research a self-directed project and number of practical exercises. Because genetics is a quantitative science, students will learn how to apply probability and other mathematical and reasoning skills to solve theoretical and applied problems. Students will be required to carry out a number of problem-solving exercises each week that will contribute to their final mark. All practical work will be written up and submitted on-line. The content of the learning experience is designed to be well-connected to other ideas and to the real world and to be personally relevant, interesting, useful, or meaningful to the student. The aim is to engage the students, stimulate their curiosity, encourage their self-confidence, responsibility and sense of accomplishment, cooperation with fellow students, and self-knowledge.

The module is constantly updated in light of scientific and education developments.