BIOSCI 202 : Genetics
Science
2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
In this course we will provide a foundation for understanding how genotype determines phenotype in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. To do this, we will explore how genetic material is organized and expressed, how it varies, and how it is inherited. The course will also cover modern molecular genetic techniques and DNA sequence analysis approaches, including genetic engineering and genome editing. Finally, we will examine specific genetic issues of contemporary interest, including the application of genetics to disease.
The course provides the foundation for Stage III genetics and beyond. It is a requirement for students in Genetics pathways or specialisations and is a prerequisite for BIOSCI 351 and 355.
Course Director: Austen Ganley; Course Coordinator: Suzanne Reid (s.reid@auckland.ac.nz)
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 4: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 5: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 6: | Communication |
| Capability 7: | Collaboration |
Learning Outcomes
- Develop the practical skills associated with genetics research in a group-based learning environment. Use these practical skills to answer genetics problems and questions in a lab assignment. (Capability 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7)
- Explain the the structure, organization and functioning of eukaryote and prokaryote genomes. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
- Describe linkage and how recombination can be used to calculate genetic maps of eukaryote chromosomes. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
- Describe the types and causes of genetic variation, and the relationship of genetic variation to phenotypic variation. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
- Explain the major mechanisms through which eukaryotes and prokaryotes are able to regulate gene expression. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
- Describe how to find, clone, express, transfer and characterize gene variants. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
- Review the range of molecular technologies and model organisms that can be used to understand gene function, including human disease. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
- Describe the genetic processes that influence populations, including neutral and adaptive evolutionary change, and be able to calculate population genetic parameters. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
- Interpret phylogenetic trees and molecular systematics using inherited DNA variation data. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Laboratories | 25% | Individual Coursework |
| Quizzes | 10% | Individual Coursework |
| Test | 30% | Individual Test |
| Final Exam | 35% | Individual Examination |
| 4 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
| Laboratories | ||||||||||
| Quizzes | ||||||||||
| Test | ||||||||||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
Key Topics
Module 1: Genome organisation and chromosome structure
Module 2: Gene expression and mutation
Module 3: DNA technology and genetic engineering
Module 4: Population genetics and phylogenetics
Special Requirements
Tuākana
The School of Biological Sciences has an active Tuākana programme. For more information and to find contact details for the Biological Sciences Tuākana coordinator, please see https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/maori-and-pacific-at-the-faculty/tuakana-programme.html
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you can expect 3 hours of lectures per week, 3 hours of labs per fortnight, 66 hours of reading and thinking about the content including work on laboratory assignments, practice genetics questions, quizzes and test/exam preparation. This is a minimum of 5.5 hours per week outside lectures and labs.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is required at labs to complete practical components of the course. We strongly recommend lecture attendance, but they will also be available as recordings. Other learning activities including labs will not be available as recordings. The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Health & Safety
Students will be advised of basic lab safety requirements prior to attending labs and will need to wear appropriate clothing in lab sessions.
Student Feedback
During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.
At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.
Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.
Staff welcome feedback on the course throughout the semester, including the SET evaluations. Please contact your course coordinator or student representative at any time with your feedback
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Copyright
The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.
You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.
The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.