The RNA World/Genome Rearrangements (U01508)

? Credit Points : 10 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : BIO-4-MBrna/gen

Human Genetics: The aim - to explore how the impetus to understand human genetic disorders has prompted new technological advances and revealed novel biological mechanisms. Speakers in this course will give lectures showing how general principles of human genetics have applied to specific examples of human genetic syndromes.

Genome Rearrangements: Genomes are not fixed in time and space; they combine the stability required for inheritance and the flexibility required for change. Systems exist to ensure that genomes are rearranged between generations and this results in genetic diversity between the individuals of a species. Genetic recombination does not only occur between generations; an individual's genome is also subject to rearrangement. This can regulate gene expression, generate genetic diversity between the cells in a single individual or repair DNA damage.

While developing an understanding of the details of recombination reactions, we explore the interactions between homologous, transpositional and illegitimate systems. The course concentrates on mechanism and explores the similarities and differences in genetic requirements and chemistry between V(D)J recombination, transposition, non-homologous end-joining and hairpin processing in homologous recombination. Students are also encouraged to extend their analysis to the less well understood reactions of class-switching.