Course content
Weeks 1-5: Andrew Munkacsi Genetics of ageing, model organisms, molecular causes of ageing, mitochondrial dysfunction, DNA repair, telomeres, caloric restriction, insulin-like pathways, sirtuin, autophagy, centenarian genetics, premature ageing, cholesterol homeostasis, lipotoxicity.
Weeks 6-9: Melanie McConnell Cancer genomes, epigenetics, chromatin structure and cancer. Cancer genes and inherited predisposition, genetics of sporadic cancers, targeting cancer genes.
Weeks 10-12: Andrew Munkacsi Genetics, animal models, cell biology, and genetic risk factors of Alzheimer’s disease. Personalised medicine, human microbiome.
Course learning objectives
Students who pass this course will be able to:
explain classical and contemporary methods of genetic analysis and their application in genetic model systems
apply the information relevant to human genetics, both at the population and individual levels, with the ultimate goal of gaining an improved understanding of the genetic basis of human health and disease
Available offerings
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Offering CRN 19861
This course outline is final and archived.
Duration
6 March 2017 - 5 July 2017
Starts
Trimester 1
Campus
Kelburn
Lecture start times
Monday - 15:10, 15:10
Tuesday - 14:10, 14:10
Friday - 14:10, 14:10
People
Lecturers
Lecturers
Andrew Munkacsi
- andrew.munkacsi@vuw.ac.nz
- 04 4635171
- 322 Alan MacDiarmid Building, Kelburn
David Maass
- David.Maass@vuw.ac.nz
- 04 4635233 ext 8172
- 324 Alan MacDiarmid Building, Kelburn
Melanie McConnell
- melanie.mcconnell@vuw.ac.nz
- 04 4635233 ext 8136
- 309 Alan MacDiarmid Building, Kelburn
Administrators
Schedule
Teaching plan
Lectures be made available on blackboard in the “Lectures” section.
Week 1
Lecture
Lecture
Andrew Munkacsi
6 March
Lecture
Lecture
Andrew Munkacsi
7 March
Lecture
Lecture
Andrew Munkacsi
10 March
Week 2
Lecture
Lecture
Andrew Munkacsi
13 March
Lecture
Lecture
Andrew Munkacsi
14 March
Lecture
Lecture
Andrew Munkacsi
17 March
Week 3
Lecture
Lecture
Andrew Munkacsi
20 March
Lecture
Lecture
Andrew Munkacsi
21 March
Lecture
Lecture
Andrew Munkacsi
24 March
Week 4
Lecture
Lecture
Andrew Munkacsi
27 March
Lecture
Lecture
Andrew Munkacsi
28 March
Lecture
Lecture
Andrew Munkacsi
31 March
Week 5
Lecture
Lecture
Melanie McConnell
3 April
Test
Test 1
4 April
Laboratory
Lab Stream A - KK701
5 April
Laboratory
Lab Stream B - KK701
6 April
Lecture
Lecture
Melanie McConnell
7 April
Week 6
Lecture
Lecture
Melanie McConnell
10 April
Lecture
Lecture
Melanie McConnell
11 April
Laboratory
Lab Stream A - KK701
12 April
Laboratory
Lab Stream B - KK701
13 April
Break
No class
Melanie McConnell
14 April
Week 7
Lecture
Lecture
Melanie McConnell
1 May
Lecture
Lecture
Melanie McConnell
2 May
Laboratory
Lab Stream A - KK217/218
3 May
Laboratory
Lab Stream B - KK217/218
4 May
Lecture
Lecture
Melanie McConnell
5 May
Week 8
Lecture
Lecture
Melanie McConnell
8 May
Lecture
Lecture
Melanie McConnell
9 May
Laboratory
Lab Stream A - KK217/218
10 May
Lecture
Lab Stream B - KK217/218
11 May
Lecture
Lecture
Melanie McConnell
12 May
Week 9
Test
Test 2/Lecture
Melanie McConnell
15 May
Lecture
Lecture
Andrew Munkacsi
16 May
Lecture
Lecture
Andrew Munkacsi
19 May
Week 10
Lecture
Lecture
Andrew Munkacsi
22 May
Lecture
Lecture
Andrew Munkacsi
23 May
Lecture
Lecture
Andrew Munkacsi
26 May
Week 11
Lecture
Lecture
Andrew Munkacsi
29 May
Lecture
Lecture
Andrew Munkacsi
30 May
Lecture
Lecture
Andrew Munkacsi
2 June
Week 12
Break
No class
5 June
Lecture
Lecture
Andrew Munkacsi
6 June
Lecture
Lecture
Andrew Munkacsi
9 June
Timeline
- 6 March 2017
- Course begins
- 6 March 2017 to 9 June 2017
- Teaching
- 14 April 2017 to 28 April 2017
- Break
- 12 June 2017 to 15 June 2017
- Study period
- 16 June 2017 to 5 July 2017
- Exam period
- 5 July 2017
- Course ends
Timetable
6 March 2017 - 16 April 2017
Monday
- 15:10 - 17:00 – LT119, Hunter, Kelburn
Tuesday
- 14:10 - 15:00 – LT220, Hunter, Kelburn
Friday
- 14:10 - 15:00 – LT119, Hunter, Kelburn
1 May 2017 - 11 June 2017
Monday
- 15:10 - 17:00 – LT119, Hunter, Kelburn
Tuesday
- 14:10 - 15:00 – LT220, Hunter, Kelburn
Friday
- 14:10 - 15:00 – LT119, Hunter, Kelburn
Teaching format
The course will be taught by way of three 1-hour lectures per week and four 3-hour laboratory sessions.
Workload
The course has a value of 20 points and with a single point equivalent to 10 hours work the course workload including lectures, laboratories and personal study time is around 200 hours.
Additional classes
Laboratories: Stream A on Wednesday and Stream B on Thursday; each stream meets at 10:00-12:50 and 14:10-17:00 (Weeks 5 and 6 in KK701) as well as at 11:00-13:50 and 15:10-18:00 (Weeks 7 and 8 in KK217/218)
Texts
Required
There are no required texts for this offering.
Recommended
Any of the following are recoomended to supplement lectures:
- “iGenetics: A Molecular Approach” by Peter J. Russell, 3rd ed., 2010
- "Human Genetics: Concepts and Applications" by Ricki Lewis, 10th ed., 2011
- "Human Genetics and Genomics" by Bruce R. Korf, 4th ed., 2013
- "Human Molecular Genetics" by Tom Strachan and Andrew P. Read, 4th ed., 2010
Required materials and equipment
Assessment
Assessment will be as follows:
Test 1
CLO:
- 1,
- 2,
Mark: 10%
Test 2
CLO:
- 1,
- 2,
Mark: 10%
Final Exam (Comprehensive)
CLO:
- 1,
- 2,
Mark: 40%
Quizzes
CLO:
- 1,
- 2,
Mark: 10%
Debate
CLO:
- 1,
- 2,
Mark: 5%
Lab report 1
CLO:
- 1,
- 2,
Mark: 12.5%
Lab report 2
CLO:
- 1,
- 2,
Mark: 12.5%
Mandatory requirements
In addition to achieving an overall pass mark of at least 50%, students must:
- Achieve at least 50% in the final examination
- attend all four laboratory sessions
If you believe that exceptional circumstances may prevent you from meeting the mandatory course requirements, contact the Course Coordinator for advice as soon as possible.
Marking criteria
Marking criteria will be posted on Blackboard.
Work submission
-
Extension
Requests to sit a ‘makeup’ terms test, or an extension of the due date for an assignment, can be granted only if you have been prevented from attending a test (or completing an item of assessment) because of an illness or injury; personal bereavement; or some other critical personal or exceptional circumstance. The illness or impairment must be verified at the time by supporting documents from a registered health professional (medical practitioner, midwife, dental surgeon, psychologist, or counsellor approved by the Convener of the Academic Committee). In other exceptional circumstances some form of official documentation will be required. Applications must be made within a reasonable time of the assessment date, or in circumstances beyond your control on the day of the assessment.
Penalties
Penalties of 5% per day may be enforced for unjustified late assignments.
Communication and additional information
Course information, other than that given in class, will be made available on Blackboard. Please ensure that you keep a regular watch on the Blackboard site.
Student feedback
Students in 2016 strongly agreed that the way this course was organised helped them prepare for the assessments and learn overall. They were encouraged to think critically, stimulated to learn more, and developed their communication skills. The amount of work was about right for the students. The course will therefore be offered in a similar way for 2016.
You can view Student course feedback collected for the University courses from the last completed trimester for which feedback was collected
Class representative
The class representative provides a useful way to communicate feedback to the teaching staff during the course. They also work with the VUWSA Education Office on any academic issues that arise in their course. Reps are elected by students by the third week of classes every trimester. Being a rep requires a weekly commitment.
The Use of Te Reo Māori for Assessment Policy
Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington values te reo Māori. Students who wish to submit any of their assessments in te reo Māori must refer to The Use of Te Reo Māori for Assessment Policy - PDF 134kb
He mea nui te reo Māori ki Te Herenga Waka. Ki te pīrangi koe ki te tuhituhi i ō aro matawai i roto i te reo Māori, tēnā me mātua whakapā atu ki te kaupapa here, The Use of Te Reo Māori for Assessment Policy - PDF 134kb
Course additions and withdrawals
If you want to add or drop a course you need to make sure you follow the correct process.
Important information
Keep your uni experience running smoothly—find out how to manage your studies from enrolment through to graduation.
Find out more:
- Enrolment and course advice
- Student conduct and feedback
- Examinations and assessments