Unit description
This unit provides an introduction to the principles of genetics — the science of heredity. Humankind relies heavily on the application of genetic principles for the production of food, fibre, timber, animal feed, effective medicines and disease diagnosis. Genetics can also be used to understand evolution and manage threatened species for long term survival. We also explore techniques used to reveal genetic differences between individuals, the genetic basis of evolutionary change and the genetics of populations and the how this can impact on conservation management.
Unit content
Introduction to, and importance of, genetics
Chromosomes, meiosis and sexual reproduction
Mendelian inheritance patterns
Non-Mendelian inheritance patterns
The physical nature of genes - chromosome and DNA structure
Mutation
Mutation detection
Population genetics
Conservation genetics
Molecular genetics
Evolutionary genetics
Genomics and biotechnology
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.
Learning outcomes and graduate attributes
| 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, meiosis, segregation and recombination | Intellectual rigour | Knowledge of a discipline | |||||
| 2 | analyse information on inheritance patterns to provide likely underlying genetic causes for several classes of non-mendelian inheritance, including linkage, cytoplasmic inheritance, epistatic interaction and sex linked traits | Intellectual rigour | Knowledge of a discipline | |||||
| 3 | describe the nature of the gene and define genetic mutations | Intellectual rigour | Knowledge of a discipline | |||||
| 4 | interpret results of genotyping to apply in decision making in plant or animal conservation | Intellectual rigour | Knowledge of a discipline | |||||
| 5 | define genetic diversity, natural selection and genetic drift | Intellectual rigour | Knowledge of a discipline | |||||
| 6 | discuss the ethical implications of genetic information for society and for individuals. | Intellectual rigour | Ethical practice | Knowledge of a discipline | ||||
Prescribed texts
Session 1
- 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.
Teaching and assessment
Lismore
| Teaching method |
| Lecture on-site 1 hr (24) |
| Tutorial on-site 1 hr (12) |
| Residential session 3 days (1) |
| Assessment | |
| Quiz | 5% |
| Quiz | 5% |
| Calculations | 20% |
| Quiz | 5% |
| Essay | 25% |
| Exam: closed book | 40% |
Online
| Teaching method |
| Lecture online 1 hr (24) |
| Tutorial online 1 hr (12) |
| Residential session 3 days (1) |
| Assessment | |
| Quiz | 5% |
| Quiz | 5% |
| Calculations | 20% |
| Quiz | 5% |
| Essay | 25% |
| Exam: closed book | 40% |
Fee information
Domestic
Commonwealth Supported courses
For information regarding Student Contribution Amounts please visit the Student Contribution Amounts.
Commencing 2017 Commonwealth Supported only. Student contribution band: 2
Fee paying courses
For POSTGRADUATE or UNDERGRADUATE full fee paying courses please check Domestic Postgraduate Fees OR Domestic Undergraduate Fees
International
Please check the international course and fee list to determine the relevant fees.