BS102-4-AU-CO:
Genetics and Evolution

The details
2024/25
Life Sciences (School of)
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
Thursday 03 October 2024
Friday 13 December 2024
15
15 July 2024

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

BSC C700 Biochemistry,
BSC C701 Biochemistry (Including Placement Year),
BSC C703 Biochemistry (Including Year Abroad),
BSC CR00 Biochemistry (Including Foundation Year),
BSC C100 Biological Sciences,
BSC C101 Biological Sciences (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C102 Biological Sciences (Including Placement Year),
BSC CD00 Biological Sciences (Including Foundation Year),
BSC B990 Biomedical Science,
BSC B991 Applied Biomedical Science (NHS placement),
BSC B995 Biomedical Science (Including Year Abroad),
BSC B999 Biomedical Science (Including Placement Year),
BSC BD00 Biomedical Science (Including Foundation Year),
MSCIB099 Biomedical Science,
MSCIBA99 Biomedical Science (Including Placement Year),
MSCIBB99 Biomedical Science (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C520 Ecology and Environmental Biology,
BSC C521 Ecology and Environmental Biology (Including Foundation Year),
BSC C522 Ecology and Environmental Biology (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C523 Ecology and Environmental Biology (Including Placement Year),
BSC C400 Genetics,
BSC C402 Genetics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C403 Genetics (Including Placement Year),
BSC CK00 Genetics (Including Foundation Year),
BSC C161 Marine Biology (Including Foundation Year),
BSC C164 Marine Biology,
BSC CC60 Marine Biology (Including Year Abroad),
BSC CC64 Marine Biology (Including Placement Year),
BSC C110 Biotechnology,
BSC C111 Biotechnology (Including Foundation Year),
BSC C112 Biotechnology (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C113 Biotechnology (Including Placement Year),
BSC C200 Human Biology,
BSC C201 Human Biology (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C202 Human Biology (Including Placement Year),
BSC C220 Human Biology (Including Foundation Year),
MSCIC098 Biochemistry and Biotechnology (Including Year Abroad),
MSCIC099 Biochemistry and Biotechnology (Including Placement Year),
MSCICZ99 Biochemistry and Biotechnology,
MSCIB097 Tropical Marine Biology,
MSCIBA97 Tropical Marine Biology (Including Placement Year),
MSCIBB97 Tropical Marine Biology (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C510 Global Sustainability,
BSC C511 Global Sustainability (Including Foundation Year),
BSC C512 Global Sustainability (including Year Abroad),
BSC C513 Global Sustainability (including Placement Year),
BSC C555 Microbiology,
BSC C556 Microbiology (Including Foundation Year),
BSC C557 Microbiology (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C558 Microbiology (Including Placement Year),
MSCIC559 Microbiology and Biotechnology

Module description

This module will provide an introduction to the study of genetics and evolution.

Module aims

The aim of this module is:

  • To provide an introduction to the study of genetics and evolution.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:

  1. Describe how genes are organised, replicated and repaired, and how the information they contain is expressed.
  2. Explain the transmission and action of genes at the level of the organism.
  3. Describe the methods used in DNA technology.
  4. Explain the evidence for the proposed mechanisms of evolution and their relationship to modern genetics.
  5. Explain the evidence for natural selection and the theories of speciation.
  6. Explain the methods to reconstruct evolutionary relationships, and the main transitions in the history of life.
  7. Demonstrate competence in data collection, interpretation and presentation.

Module information

Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution". This quote from evolutionary biologist Theodosius Dobzhansky sums up the importance of understanding evolution, and how genetic information is transmitted.

This module will also look at genetic variation and genes in populations and consider the role of natural selection in adaptive evolution, followed by mechanisms of speciation and adaptive radiation. This brings us up to date with recent studies of phylogenetics and the evolution of genes and genomes, together with the history of all organisms.

The module then moves on to the structure and function of DNA and the expression of the information contained in the genome. This is followed by modern methods in gene cloning and the applications of this technology. Finally, we move on to the transmission of genetic information from one generation to the next by the process of cell division and the principles of Mendelian inheritance.

Learning and teaching methods

This module will be delivered via:

  • Two/three 1-hour lectures per week
  • One 2-hour workshop
  • One revision class before the MCQ exam.
  • One revision class before the summer exam.
  • Three 3-hour practical sessions.

Bibliography

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Molecular Biology Worksheet 2 (Moodle)    65% 
Practical   Phylogenetics Worksheet 1 (Moodle)    35% 
Exam  MCQ exam: In-Person, Closed Book, 50 minutes during January 
Exam  Main exam: In-Person, Closed Book, 60 minutes during Summer (Main Period) 
Exam  Reassessment Main exam: In-Person, Closed Book, 60 minutes during September (Reassessment Period) 
Exam  Reassessment MCQ exam: In-Person, Closed Book, 50 minutes during September (Reassessment Period) 

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
33% 67%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
33% 67%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Benjamin Skinner, email: b.skinner@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Jen Hoyal-Cuthill, Dr Ben Skinner, De Navascues, Joaquin
School Undergraduate Office, email: bsugoffice (Non essex users should add @essex.ac.uk to create the full email address)

 

Availability
Yes
No
No

External examiner

No external examiner information available for this module.
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 19 hours, 18 (94.7%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
1 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

 

Further information
Life Sciences (School of)

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