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Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

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Module Title
Module Code (ITS)
Faculty School
Module Co-ordinatorSemester 1: Denise Harold
Semester 2: Denise Harold
Autumn: Denise Harold
Module TeachersAnne Parle-McDermott
Denise Harold
Linda Holland
NFQ level 8 Credit Rating
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.



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Online activity30Asynchronous lectures
Tutorial10No Description
Independent Study85reading 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% Examination Weight%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
AssignmentLoop assignments20%As required
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

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