THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2020/2021

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Biological Sciences : Molecular Genetics (Biological Sciences)

Undergraduate Course: DNA Repair and Genome Instability (MOGE10004)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Biological Sciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryThis elective will cover major causes of DNA damage, types of DNA damages, as well as the mechanisms providing DNA repair and genomic stability in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. The effects of genome destablizing DNA sequences, such as trinucleotide repeats, will also be included in the course. In addition, we will discuss the relevance of genomic instability for human disease. The DNA in all organisms is constantly damaged by exogenous and endogenous sources such as chemicals, radiation, and natural cell metabolic processes. Cells have evolved a multitude of mechanisms to recognise and repair different kinds of DNA damage (stalled replication forks, DNA double-strand breaks, DNA mismatches, abasic sites, damaged nucleotides, etc) to preserve genome stability. These mechanisms are co-ordinated and are an integral part of the global cellular network ensuring cell fitness and survival. In higher eukaryotes, such as humans, defective biological responses to DNA damage such as an inability to repair DNA damage or to co-ordinate repair with cell cycle progression can result in a number of diseases. These include cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, developmental syndromes, and many more.
Course description Not entered
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2020/21, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  20
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 20, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 76 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Through presentation and discussion of research papers (30%) and an open book test (70%)
Feedback Not entered
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Outwith Standard Exam Diets February2:00
Learning Outcomes
(1) Students will learn to recognise and to explain the role of DNA repair and genome integrity for cell survival and its importance for human health. (2) They will be able to explain the molecular mechanisms of DNA damage and repair in prokaryotes and eukaryotes and how the repair pathways are coordinated with each other and with cell cycle progression. (3) Students will be able to critically assess research papers relevant to the field of DNA repair and genome instability. (4) Students will be able to understand the design of experiments to answer specific questions concerning DNA repair. (5) Through oral paper presentation and an in-course test students will learn to summarise and discuss research data.
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsMOGEDNARep
Contacts
Course organiserDr Heidrun Interthal
Tel: (0131 6)50 5389
Email: heidrun.interthal@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Donna Wright
Tel: (0131 6)51 7051
Email: Donna.Wright@ed.ac.uk
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