Postgraduate Course: Genetics of Human Complex Traits (PGBI11083)
Course Outline
School | School of Biological Sciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
Summary | This course focuses on genetic and genomic approaches appropriate for the study of human populations. The course will emphasize analyses of both genetic disorders, and complex traits within the normal ranges and in the context of disease. It will identify the practical aspects associated with such analyses in human populations due to the structure and organisation of the human population and the importance of late-onset disorders. There is a strong emphasis on gaining computational skills for data analyses. |
Course description |
Session Topics
Introduction to complex traits and genetic epidemiology
Population structuring of variation and human population diversity
Study design in human populations
Linkage analysis of quantitative traits and binary traits/disorders
Association studies - quantitative traits and case:control designs
Post-GWAS analyses, Mendelian randomization and bioinformatics
Modelling disease: ENU mutagenesis, finding genes and modifiers for cancer
Critical assessment of research publications: how to write a critical essay
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Course Delivery Information
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Academic year 2023/24, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
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Lecture Hours 10,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 15,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
73 )
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Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
60 %,
Coursework
40 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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Additional Information (Assessment) |
One centrally arranged written exam (60%) plus one assignment (40%) |
Feedback |
Not entered |
Exam Information |
Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
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Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | Genetics of Human Complex Traits | 1:30 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Knowledge and Understanding. The student should know and understand: How the structure of human populations effect genomic variation and how to identify a complex trait. Understand the multiple strategies for gene identification and their strength and weaknesses when applied to complex traits. How to design studies for the identification of genes for both complex quantitative traits and disorders. The principals of quality control for linkage analysis and association studies. How to critically assess scientific publications.
- Practice: Applied knowledge, skills and understanding. The student should have practical knowledge and skills enabling the student to: Quality control a genetic dataset Perform parametric and nonparametric linkage analyses Perform association studies on quantitative and binary traits Use bioinformatics to improve the interpretation of the results of genetic analyses
- Generic cognitive skills. The student should be able to: Assess potential study designs for their strengths and limitations Integrate multiple public sources of genomic information Critically assess scientific information
- Communication, ICT and numeracy skills. The student should be able to: Implement genomic analyse using programs written in C++ and R, plot the results, and be able to interpret their significance. Write a critical essay covering an emerging topic in the field
- Autonomy, accountability and working with others. The students are expected to work through the lectures and practicals provided and take part in group discussion/ question and answer sessions. The students are expected to manage their time to ensure that they cover the course work provided and undertake the literature review necessary to complete the written in course assessment.
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Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
Additional Class Delivery Information |
10 h of lectures; 15 h of supervised practicals |
Keywords | GHCT |
Contacts
Course organiser | Dr Jacob Moorad
Tel: (0131 6)50 5442
Email: |
Course secretary | Miss Zofia Bekas
Tel: (0131 6)50 5513
Email: |
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