THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2024/2025

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Biological Sciences : Genetics

Undergraduate Course: Genetics of Host-Parasite Interactions (GENE10004)

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
SummaryMicroparasites (protists, bacteria and viruses) are responsible for some of the greatest burdens in infectious disease in humans and animals. Using prominent examples, we will be discussing genetic and molecular aspects of these organisms in a way that also relates to the biology and disease burdens inflicted by the pathogens. The module is organised in sessions of either lectures by academic staff, or presentations and discussion by the students of research literature on topics related to the lectures. The sessions on trypanosomes will focus upon two unique and characteristic aspects of the molecular cellular biology of these eukaryotic parasites, namely the phenomenon of antigenic variation and their mitochondrial biology. The session on Listeria will look at the survival strategies of a cytosolically replicating bacterial pathogen. The session on malaria will cover parasite virulence genes and discuss the cellular and molecular basis of the pathogenesis of malaria. The session on Toxoplasma will cover host and parasite factors impacting infection outcomes, and the genetic approaches used to identify them. The session on nematodes and viruses will focus on how these pathogens can use micro RNAs to regulate host gene expression.
Course description Not entered
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs Notepads, Marker Pens
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2024/25, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  0
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 98 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) A written exam will take place during Flexible Learning Week and consistent of an open book exam worth 70% of the final mark for the course.

Each student will also prepare an oral presentation on a scientific paper related to the course content. One group of students will present papers on trypanosome research and one group will present papers on apicomplexa (Plasmodium and Toxoplasma) research and papers will be assigned approximately one week ahead of time. Presentations will be discussed as a group, and students will received oral and written feedback on their presentations. The presentations will be marked and will be worth 30% of the final mark for the course.
Feedback Not entered
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Outwith Standard Exam Diets February3:00
Learning Outcomes
Increased understanding of Biological processes. Detailed learning outcome will be provided later.
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsGENEGHPInter
Contacts
Course organiserDr Achim Schnaufer
Tel:
Email: Achim.Schnaufer@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Donna Wright
Tel: (0131 6)51 7051
Email: Donna.Wright@ed.ac.uk
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