Genetics

6 ECTS credits
155 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1001239BNR for all students in the 1st semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.

Semester

1st semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Impossible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Enrollment Requirements

'Genetics’ means that you simultaneously follow 'Biology' or have successfully passed ‘Biology’. The enrolment requirement is only valid for students bachelor biology.

Taught in

Dutch

Faculty

Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences

Department

Biology

Educational team

Charlotte Lewyllie
Luc Leyns (course titular)

Activities and contact hours

26 contact hours Lecture
26 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
26 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study

Course Content

The course unit is divided in several parts.

Introduction to the cell
DNA, Chromosomes, and Genomes  
DNA Replication, Repair, and Recombination  
How Cells Read the Genome: From DNA to Protein  
Control of Gene Expression  
The Cell Cycle  
Meiosis
Apoptosis
The Cytoskeleton  
Finally, some more elements, particularly relevant to classic genetics will be discussed.

Practicals will focuss on mendelean genetics.

Course material

Digital course material (Required) : Genetica, Cursusnota's, Learning platform
Handbook (Recommended) : Molecular Biology of the Cell, Bruce Alberts, Alexander Johnson, Julian Lewis, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts, Peter Walter, 6de, Garland Science, 9780393884852 , 2023

Additional info

Handouts from the lectures (on Canvas).

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

This course has the following intended learning outcomes:

After completing this course the student should be able to:
* thoroughly know the molecular mechanism underlying the basis of genetic information (maintenance, repair, propagation and expression of this information)
* remember some genetic concepts
* link different parts of the course together
* Critically analyze and synthesize the information given (e.g. the elements that ensure the genome integrity / stability but also allow evolution)

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 60% of the final mark.
PRAC Practical Assignment determines 20% of the final mark.
Other determines 20% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Oral exam with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 60% of the final mark.

Within the PRAC Practical Assignment category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Exercises practica with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 20% of the final mark.

Within the Other category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Quizzes with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 20% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

Oral Exam (60%):
The exam consists of two questions (drawn by lottery), one very broad question which requires that elements of the answer have to be taken in various parts of the course unit and one more focused question.

The student prepares the answers for 30 minutes without nota’s (blank paper and pens). Afterwards, using the prepared notes, he/she presents one response (about 5 min) and this is followed by a discussion (5min). This process is repeated for the second answer.
In total, the exam can last up to 30 minutes.  

Practica grade (20%):
The practical note is based on the score obtained during the practical sessions for the various tasks and on the evaluation of the teaching assistant.
Note that participation to the practicals is mandatory. In case of unjustified absence, we will subtract 3 points from the final score for the practicals (graded on 20).

Quizzes grade (20%):
During the semester, quizzes will be provided online and graded.

The oral exam note will count for 60% of the final note, the quizz note for 20% and the practical note for 20% of the final grade.
However, a minimum of 50% MUST be reached for each part. If not, the lowest note will be the final note.

Partial marks: if the student obtains at least half of the score for one part (theory, quizz or practical), the note is transferred to the second session (and eventually to the next academic year).

Students may not relinquish partial marks.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context