BSc Biology

This Research Skills Module is designed to develop your experimental design, report writing and practical skills. You will be introduced to genetics research techniques during four laboratory-based projects. You will use various model organisms such as plants and fruit fly and learn different techniques such as DNA sequence analysis and immunohistochemistry.

This unit is compulsory for Genetics honours students and may be selected by Biology or Biomedical Science students.

To build on students’ previous practical experience and to introduce new concepts. To provide training in the design of experiments, the analysis and interpretation of data, the presentation of results and the maintenance of a professional lab book. To help students develop relevant practical skills and provide experimental contexts that illustrate some of the theoretical models and concepts that will be taught in BIOL21371 (Organismal Genetics) and BIOL21172 (Principles of Developmental Biology).

Students will develop skills in experimental design, time management within the laboratory, team working, the analysis and interpretation of data, and the presentation of data. They will also have a working knowledge of several commonly used Genetics techniques. Students will appreciate the need for control experiments and for careful experimental manipulation in order to obtain reliable results.

Module 1. Dr Kathy Hentges

Genetic linkage and mutation detection in human disease. During this module, students will identify a human disease gene based on linkage analysis of affected families. Upon identification, students will analyse gene sequence data to determine the nature of the mutation. Techniques will include: pedigree and genotype analysis; DNA sequence analysis; bioinformatics methods for mutation detection and functional profiling.

Module 2. Prof Andreas Prokop

The fruit fly Drosophila is a highly efficient and cost-effective model organism with which to explore fundamental mechanisms of biology, which then often apply to higher organisms - to a degree that mouse genes can sometimes be interchanged with those of flies; 10 Nobel laureates awarded  in "Physiology or Medicine" for work in fruit flies, clearly illustrate this statement. During this week, you will experience how this works by understanding the idea behind a genetic screen, how to analyse mutant fly embryos and how the findings apply to higher organisms. Learned skills include immuno-histochemistry, strategies for microscopical analysis and applied classical genetics.

Module 3. Dr Chris Knight and Dr Rok Krašovec

Genetics of density-associated mutation-rate plasticity (DAMP). During this module students will search for genes involved in bacterial DAMP. Rate of mutation to antibiotic resistance will be estimated with a fluctuation test in an organism with one particular gene knocked out. Techniques will include various microbiological procedures needed for carrying out the fluctuation test and a fluctuation analysis.

Module 4. Dr Minsung Kim and Dr Patrick Gallois 

Genetic and developmental analyses of flowers.  During this module, students will learn the genetic basis of developmental patterning for diverse flower forms in species including the plant model species Arabidopsis and the sunflower family.  Techniques include: flower dissecting and anatomical analyses, gene expression analysis in mutants using GUS histochemical staining, mathematical and modelling tools to dissect the Fibonacci pattering in flowers.

50% Full report with Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion and References on “Estimating the probability of microbial mutation” - 5-page report ( Arial, 10 point, 1.5 line spacing, with margins of at least 2.5 cm all around the text - References not included in the five page limit) – submission two week after the end of the RSM  

17% Human Genetics (3 ePBLs for 7.5% during RSM - Linkage mapping 9.5% deadline 1 week after the end of the module – week 4)

17% Drosophila (Genetic pedigree of mutants – deadline 1 week after end of the module – week 5 + negative marking for mini-tasks to be completed during the RSM)

16% Plant module: Online assessments 

During the practical sessions, there will be many opportunities for you to get feedback from staff or demonstrators on your technical performance. The short answer questions or exercises in the practical manual are there to test your understanding and you should get feedback from staff or demonstrators on your answers. You will get feedback on your overall performance in the form of the final mark for the unit and you will get feedback for each of the assessments you have completed.

Either Genes VIII (paperback) or Genes IX (hardcover).

Recommended Reading

1. Fixsen W D, Solutions manual for An Introduction to Genetic Analysis (7th edition), W. H. Freeman, 2000, Recommended
2. Griffiths A J F, Gelbart W M, Miller J H and Lewontin R C, Modern Genetic Analysis, W. H. Freeman, 1999, Recommended
3. Griffiths A J F, Miller J H, Suzuki D T, Lewontin R C and Gelbart W M, An Introduction to Genetic Analysis (7th edition), Freeman, 2000, Recommended
4. Ralph Greenspan, Fly Pushing : The Theory and Practice of Drosophila Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1997, Recommended