Undergraduate Course: Genetics of Host-Parasite Interactions (GENE10004)
Course Outline
School | School of Biological Sciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
Summary | Protozoan parasites are responsible for some of the greatest burdens in infectious disease in humans and animals. Two groups of these parasites are the malaria parasites and the trypanosomes. We will be discussing fundamental genetic and molecular aspects of these organisms in a way that also relates to the biology and disease burdens inflicted by the parasites. The module is organised in pairs of sessions, one of which involves an introductory lecture and the second of which involves presentations and discussion by the students of research literature on the topic of a session. One session pair will concern the effects of malaria on the human host and the results of selection by these parasites on the genetic constitution of human populations. Another will concern the evidence which comes from the genetic and the molecular genetic analysis of malaria parasites and their human hosts concerning the evolution of human malaria parasites. There will be a session pair which addresses the genetics and population genetics of malaria parasites with particular reference to the origin and spread of resistance of the parasites to antimalarial drugs. There will be sessions on the interactions between trypanosomes and their hosts. The last two weeks of the module are without classes and have been kept free for students to continue study on the material of the module. |
Course description |
Not entered
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Additional Costs | Notepads, Marker Pens |
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisites | None |
High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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Academic year 2024/25, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 12 |
Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
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Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
98 )
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Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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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.
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Feedback |
Not entered |
Exam Information |
Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
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Outwith Standard Exam Diets February | | 3:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
Increased understanding of Biological processes. Detailed learning outcome will be provided later.
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Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
Keywords | GENEGHPInter |
Contacts
Course organiser | Dr Achim Schnaufer
Tel:
Email: Achim.Schnaufer@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Donna Wright
Tel: (0131 6)51 7051
Email: Donna.Wright@ed.ac.uk |
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