? Credit Points : 10  ? SCQF Level : 10  ? Acronym : BIO-4-GErna/sex

The RNA World:
Recent years have seen a growing awareness of the major role played by RNA molecules and RNA metabolism in biological systems. The course will cover many aspects of the function, transport and evolution of RNA and will highlight the dual roles of RNAs as functional components of cells and major carriers and mediators of genetic information.

Topics:
The RNA world hypothesis for the origins of life. The structure of RNA, RNA-mediated catalysis and splicing. The synthesis, modification, transport and degradation of mRNAs. The roles of these activities in the regulation of gene expression. mRNA localization and its importance for cell and organism polarity. The use of RNAi to analyse gene expression and function. Small RNAs as therapeutic agents.

Sex Determination:
Learning outcomes
- Understand genetic strategies for sex determination and sex chromosome dosage compensation in a variety of vertebrate and non-vertebrate species
- Criticise current experimental data relevant to the topic and evaluate apparently conflicting theories
- Prepare and execute presentations and participate with peers in seminars conveying details of recent advances in the field.

? This course is not available to visting students.

? Pre-requisites : Permission of the Curriculum Approval Officer.

? Costs : Notepads

Home subject area

Genetics, (School of Biological Sciences, Schedule K)

? Normal year taken : 4th year

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 5 hour(s) 30 minutes per week for 5 weeks

First Class Information

Date Start End Room Area Additional Information 08/01/2008 14:00 15:50 414, Darwin Building

All of the following classes

Type Day Start End Area Lecture Tuesday 14:00 15:50 KB Lecture Thursday 09:00 10:50 Central

? Additional Class Information : Tuesday - Sex Determination (Heather McQueen)
Thursday - The RNA World (David Tollervey)

Increased understanding of Biological processes. Detailed learning outcomes will be provided later.

Sex Determination
Essay (70%), Seminars (30%) - Total for Course = 5 points


The RNA World
Essay = 5 Points

Essays due Semester 2, Week 6 (February)

The Course Secretary should be the first point of contact for all enquiries.

Course Secretary

Miss Donna Wright
Tel : (0131 6)51 7051
Email : Donna.Wright@ed.ac.uk

Course Organiser

Dr Peter Fantes
Tel : (0131 6)50 5669
Email : P.Fantes@ed.ac.uk

School Website : http://www.biology.ed.ac.uk/

College Website : http://www.scieng.ed.ac.uk/