521-308 Genome Science

521-213 Integrated Biomedical Science I and 536-250 Integrated Biomedical Science II

The subject aims to develop knowledge, skills in and an understanding of the rationale and experimental strategies and computational sequence analyses being used in the major international genome programs (particularly the Human Genome Program) and an appreciation of the potential for future applications of this knowledge.

The subject will be organised into three components: (i) a lecture series; (ii) computational molecular biology (bioinformatics) exercises; and (iii) research laboratory placements.

The lecture course will cover the following areas: an overview of current progress in the Human Genome Program; general experimental strategies for complete structural characterisation of the genome; functional significance of the overall chromosomal DNA architecture; molecular basis of DNA finger printing; organisation of genes; information content of DNA including non-standard genetic code; structural patterns within genes and associated regulatory regions; functional genomics emphasising strategies for the identification of new genes and the characterisation of their encoded proteins; the concept of cell-specific proteomes reflected by two-dimensional electrophoretic characterisations of total protein extracts of cells; comparative and evolutionary chromosome organisation and gene patterns; and principles of computational molecular biology (bioinformatics) directed towards DNA and protein sequence alignments, pattern recognition, evolutionary comparisons and molecular modelling of protein structures. In addition, ethical issues relating to the potential application of the new genetics arising from genome structural characterisation will be considered.

The computer-based exercises will aim to develop skills in sequence data retrieval, sequence alignments and pattern recognition. The research laboratory placements will be designed to provide students with skills in research laboratory work, library research, report writing and team work in a relevant area of genome science.

2-hour end-of-semester examination on the theory and practical components of the subject (70%); interactive computer exercises (10%); research report (20%)