NBIK15014U Human Genetics
MSc Programme in Biochemistry
MSc Programme in Biology
MSc Programme in Molecular Biomedicine
The aim of the course is to give students a thorough understanding of pioneering and contemporary research in human genetics with emphasis on human genetic diseases.
The course is organised into the following topics:
- Approaches to the analysis of human monogenic disease
- Polygenic diseases
- Quantitative genetics
- Low penetrance alleles
- Genetic variation in humans
- Patterns of inheritance in humans
- Cytogenetics
- Clinical genetics and genetic counselling
- Genome stability: fragile sites, translocations, chromosome fusions
- Strategies for constructing gene editing with emphasis on the CRISPR/Cas system and examples of approved gene therapies
- Experimental model systems for human genetics
- Design of research projects and writing of research proposals
- Cancer Genomics
- Genome-wide association studies
- Personalized medicine based on genetic profiling
The organization and content of a research proposal will be taught, including typical evaluation criteria of funding agencies such as relevance and impact, originality and novelty, experimental design and contingency plans, and achievability (management plans, milestones, workplan).
Knowledge:
- An in-depth understanding of the above topics and the experimental procedures required to study those topics
- Understanding of the organization and typical content of a research proposal
Skills:
The student will be able to:
- read, understand and convey the reasoning and logic of scientific experiments that deals with human genetics
- design gene editing or knockdown constructs for manipulation of human cells
- identify unanswered questions within the field of human genetics
- write a research proposal to experimentally address unanswered questions within the field of human genetics.
Competences:
- To be able to understand, evaluate and convey human genetic research.
- To design a research project
- To understand the essential elements of a research project proposal and to write a research proposal on a topic related to the topics covered by the course.
Primary literature. See Absalon.
Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is recommended.
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 14
- Preparation
- 127
- Theory exercises
- 28
- Exam
- 37
- Total
- 206
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Written assignment, during the course
- Type of assessment details
- The exam consists of a written assignment to produce a 5-page
research grant proposal (max. 20,000 characters including spaces).
The written assignment has to be handed in the last week of the course. - Exam registration requirements
It is a requirement for participation in the exam that the student has passed 4 out of 5 quizzes given during the course.
- Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Several internal examiners
- Re-exam
A new written assignment must be handed in - see type of assessment.
If the requirement of 4 out of 5 passed quizzes given during the course, is not fulfilled it can be fulfilled before the reexam.
Criteria for exam assesment
In order to obtain the grade 12 the student should convincingly and accurately demonstrate the knowledge, skills and competences described under Learning Outcome.
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- NBIK15014U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Block 3
- Schedule
- A
- Course capacity
- 48
The number of places might be reduced if you register in the late-registration period (BSc and MSc) or as a credit or single subject student.
Study board
- Study Board for the Biological Area
Contracting department
- Department of Biology
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Science
Course Coordinators
- Vibe Hallundbæk Østergaard (vibe@bio.ku.dk)
Lecturers
Ida Moltke, Birgitte Regenberg and Michael Lisby