Module: Comparative Genomics & Developmental Biology

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Comparative Genomics & Developmental Biology
Module Code	GCB1000 (ITS: BE310)
Faculty	Biotechnology	School	Science & Health
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

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. An undersanding of sequence alignment algorithms and sequence database search tools and statistics
3. Discuss concepts in molecular evolution
4. An understanding of phylogenetic reconstruction
5. Applications of comparative genomics: across species, within species and within individuals
6. Consideration of the concepts development and the main model organisms used in this field.
7. Demonstrate an understanding of cell differentiation and it's reversibility in different contexts.
8. Knowledge of the physiology of human development and current research to investigate its molecular aspects.
9. An understanding and being able to describe the molecular detail of Drosophila early development.
10. Knowledge of specific laboratory techniques that have relevance of investigation of development processes.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	12	No Description
Online activity	12	Asynchronous lectures
Tutorial	6	No Description
Independent Study	95	reading of recommended book chapters and publications recommended to you by your lecturer (these may change year on year)
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	10140	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC3	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Denise Harold	Module Teacher	Anne Parle-Mcdermott

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	Loop assignments	20%	As required
Formal Examination	n/a	80%	End-of-Semester

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

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.

Indicative Reading List

Books:

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,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None