Module: Genetics of Human Inheritance

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Genetics of Human Inheritance
Module Code	GCB1002 (ITS: BE434)
Faculty	Biotechnology	School	Science & Health
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

The purpose of this module is to build on the principles of genetics and genomics from earlier modules in the programme with a focus on the human genome. Students will develop a good understanding of how this knowledge has been extended and developed to analyse, manipulate and understand the genomes of humans in different populations. This will be achieved by gaining knowledge in human inheritance and genetic variation of both mendelian and non-mendelian traits. Evolutionary processes impacting on genotype and allele frequencies will be described. Students are expected to access online materials and participate in tutorial discussions.

Learning Outcomes

1. Knowledge and understanding of human inheritance (mendelian and non-mendelian).
2. Knowledge and understanding of historical and contemporary approaches to disease gene identification.
3. An understanding of genome-wide association study design.
4. Identify the strengths and limitations of next generation sequencing efforts to understand human health and disease.
5. Apply the Law of Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium and its assumptions to calculate allele and genotype frequencies.
6. Explain and predict the factors that can cause genotype frequency changes, including random drift, selection, mutation, recombination, non-random mating.
7. Define linkage disequilibrium and describe its use in population genetics.
8. Define effective population size (Ne) and identify population parameters that influence Ne.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Topics relating to Human Inheritance and Population Genetics
Independent Study	101	Extra reading and revision
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	20099	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC2	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Denise Harold	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	Students will be assessed by 20% CA that may include a combination of Loop Quiz (MCQ and short answer), Assignments and Oral examination.	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

Human Inheritance
An overview of the different types of human inheritance: autosomal, sex chromosomal inheritance, mitochondrial inheritance and epigenetics. Approaches to identifying the genes responsible for monogenic disorders. The latest therapeutic approaches to treating monogenic diseases. An understanding of oligogenic & polygenic inheritance and quantitative & discontinuous traits. How to conduct an association study and utilize the HapMap data. An understanding of linkage disequilibrium. Latest technologies and post-human genome projects. The impact of the environment on the human genome.

Population Genetics
An overview of the evolutionary forces and their interactions that create diversification within and between populations and affect the genetic structure of populations.

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Strachan and Read: 0, Human Molecular Genetics,
Sudbery: 0, Human molecular genetics,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None