Advanced Topics in Genetics B

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2011:

B. Sc. Major in Genetics or equivalent

None.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the 3 Disability Liaison Unit website : 4 http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject will focus on one or more current areas of Genetic research and aims to provide students with an in-depth coverage of these areas with respect to recent advances and insights. This subject will extend basic knowledge in these areas gained during a student’s undergraduate degree. The topics of this subject will change from year to year but the subject will consist of blocks of lectures in the chosen topics, literature review and analysis where published papers are analysed and discussed, oral presentations and written exercises. The subject provides students with skills and knowledge for understanding original research and enhanced written and oral communication skills.

Objectives of this subject are for students to:

• understand the way in which experiments in genetics are designed, communicated and interpreted;
• extend their abilities in oral and written scientific communication; and
• gain the ability to read and assimilate specific research papers and to understand how the research reported relates to the broad field of genetics.
• The subject involves lectures and lecture/discussions on research papers in genetics, in one or more areas of genetics.

1. Short writing exercise. 10%

All students given the same published research paper to study.
Short written exercise(s) based on this paper under exam conditions (less than 500 words). Students would be provided with a modified copy of the paper (e.g. lacking a particular section)

2. Essay/review. 75%

Students provided with a (long) list of topics. Topics must be strongly genetic and not closely related to project/lab areas in the Department and biased towards areas not covered in detail at 300 level or in Advanced Genetics A. Topics to be in the form of a brief title/phenomenon i.e. not a question/sentence.

Students propose three possible topics and they are assigned one of these.

2500 word essay plus up to 6 diagrams/tables and legends. The diagrams/tables must be original or heavily modified from published ones. General principles to be covered (approx. 75%) but possible to then focus on a few key findings/papers (25%).
Marked by a committee of 3 with an oral of 30 minutes the purpose of which is to allow students to show their knowledge of the topic and to address questions of clarity in their writing.

3. Oral communication. 15%

All students give a talk on their topic to the Department – 20 minutes and 10 minutes for questions.
Assessed by a common group of 3 LAA for all talks using a formal marking scheme.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

This subject will provide students with the opportunity to develop the following generic skills:

• the ability to evaluate scientific literature;
• the ability to use conceptual models to assess experimental data;
• the capacity to articulate their knowledge and understanding in written and oral presentations;
• the capacity for high level written report presentation skills
• the capacity for oral communication and presentation skills
• time management and self-management skills