Module: Comparative Genomics & Developmental Biology

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Comparative Genomics & Developmental Biology
Module Code	BE310 (ITS) / GCB1000 (Banner)
Faculty	Science & Health	School	Biotechnology
Module Co-ordinator	Denise Harold
Module Teachers	Anne Parle-Mcdermott, Linda Holland, Paul Cahill
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

Repeat examination
Array

Description

This module will introduce students to the field of comparative genomics and it's many applications and to the field of developmental biology with a focus on the molecular processes underlying Eukaryotic development.

Learning Outcomes

1. Discuss the basic concepts of comparative genomics and developmental biology from both a computational and cellular perspective
2. Describe the process of analysing biological sequence data from databases to statistical methods for analysing/assessing data signal
3. Discuss concepts in molecular evolution
4. Applications of comparative genomics: across species, within species and within individuals
5. Consideration of the concepts development and the main model organisms used in this field.
6. Demonstrate an understanding of cell differentiation and it's reversibility in different contexts.
7. Knowledge of the physiology of human development and current research to investigate its molecular aspects.
8. An understanding and being able to describe the molecular detail of Drosophila early development.
9. Knowledge of specific laboratory techniques that have relevance of investigation of development processes.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Online activity	30	Asynchronous lectures
Tutorial	10	No Description
Independent Study	85	reading of recommended book chapters and publications recommended to you by your lecturer (these may change year on year)
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Comparative Genomics
Introduction to Comparative Genomics, key concepts including homology, orthology and paralogy. Major comparative genomic methods will be dealt with in detail, including pairwise and multiple alignment methodologies, probability and statistical analysis of sequence alignments, databases and mining, phylogeny reconstruction. Applications of comparative genomics across species, within species and within individuals will be explored.

Developmental Biology
A brief history of developmental biology. Early key experiments and milestones. Introduction of model organisms such as Xenopus, zebrafish, chick,mouse, Drosophila and C. elegans. Basic stages of development:comparison of model organisms. Focus on Drosophila lifecycle and development. Drosophila developmental genetics- establishment of body plan: anterior-posterior axis, dorsal-ventral axis.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	20%	Examination Weight	80%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Assignment	Loop assignments	20%	As required

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 3

Indicative Reading List

Jonathan Pevsner: 0, Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics, 3,
David W Mount: 0, Sequence and Genome Analysis,
Scott F. Gilbert: 0, Developmental biology, 7,
Lewis Wolpert: 0, Principles of Development, 3,
J.M.W. Slack: 0, Essential Delevopmental Biology, 2,

Other Resources

None