Entry requirements

General entry requirements

Learning outcomes

The course intends to give basic knowledge about the composition and function of the human genome as well as the importance of genetic factors for origin of diseases, abnormalities and developmental disorders in humans, partly for variation of normal properties.

On completion of the course, the student should

• demonstrate an understanding of the structure of the human genome and function and know and understand basic concepts for the expression of genes
• know and have understanding for different genetic factors of importance for the origin of hereditary diseases and for the genetic variation of normal properties
• know and be able to use basic genetic concepts and identify Mendelian inheritance patterns.

Content

The course includes theoretical parts or video lectures coupled with practical assignments as well as short self-correcting tests. An introductory theoretical section describes the structure of the genetic make-up and the flow of genetic information in the cell from DNA to RNA to protein. A theoretical part including methods to study genes intend to give an overview about different current molecular medicine techniques and give examples of interpretations of results of these. An introduction to bioinformatics is given during the course and coupled practical assignments show how information about genes can be acquired from different databases. During the course, the following fields will be treated:

• mitosis, meiosis and chromosome disorders
• genome structure and genetic mapping
• mitochondrial inheritance and human development
• the genetic code and genetic alterations
• DNA injuries and their repair
• mendelian inheritance and population genetics
• mitochondrial inheritance and human development
• monogenic and polygenetic diseases
• carcinogenesis
• molecular diagnostics
• epigenetics
• cloning, transgenic animals and gene therapy
• gene ethics.

Instruction

The course is given in Swedish, but parts of the course are in English. The course is web-based and is based on self-study. Information about different activities such as assignments and submission dates are on the website of the course. Communication between participants and teachers take place primarily via the website and via email. It is a requirement that the participants have access to the Internet.

The course is part-time and lasts for 12 weeks.

Assessment

Written examination takes place on several occasions during the course and at the end of the course. The examination can be constituted of written assignments, test and examination.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.