A written ASSIGNMENT (100%) a critical literature review where the student selects a topic from a list and researches and presents a scientific review.. 5000 words maximum.

Additional Assessment Details (including formative feedback / assessment):
Participants will receive formative feedback on the assignment and reflective log.

This module is fully supported by Blackboard course pages. The electronic support includes additional information about assessment, formative feedback and discussion groups, in addition to guided learning activities and guidance on independent study.

The module is delivered entirely in a VLE as nine activities over nine weeks. Directed independent problem-solving/tasks, to include distributed learning material, guided reading and completion of assessment tasks will occupy the students' time. The activities will guide extensive independent and directed study by the student. A key text will provide the basic structure and fundamental aspects of the course and the activities will develop depth from this basic background through exploration of the numerous web-sites associated with molecular genetics and of course the literature.

Assessment will be by the submission of one piece of work related to the activities.

The tutor can be contacted to clarify or discuss the work via telephone or e-mail or video links. Within the VLE a discussion group will also provide for student-student or student-tutor contact
Additionally, guided independent study will occupy the remaining 146 hours assigned. Tutor support will be provided via the Blackboard course pages where participants will find resources and guided material to direct and inform their reading, reflection, assessment, information gathering and critical appraisal.

Participants will have access to tutors online at specified times, as outlined in module handbook.

Note that the module will mainly use current material from e- journals as it intends to look at the forefront of genetics - however the texts below will be relevant, they all have recent new editions.

T. Strachan & A. P. Read, Human Molecular Genetics 4th ed., 2011. Garland Science. ISBN 978-0-815-34149-9.

P. Sudbery & I. Sudbery (2009) Human Molecular Genetics, 3rd edition, Pearson/Benjamin Cummings. ISBN 978-0-13-205157-6.

Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K., Walter, P. (2008). Molecular Biology of the Cell, 5th edition. Garland Science. ISBN 978-0-8153-4106-2

Access to online resources for distance students.
Computer capable of accessing VLE.

Genetic and molecular biology are currently very fast moving fields. This module aims to provide a look at or near the forefront of genetic research and applications. This will be built upon material covered, of a more established nature, earlier in the course. To some extent the content will reflect topic issues and there must be some fluidity in content however it is envisaged that the following topics will be covered. One of these will be covered in depth to the limits of current understanding

- Epigenetics
- Genomic imprinting
- Advanced gene regulation -
- Interfering RNA and micro RNA regulation
- RNA editing
- Stem cell genetics and genetic aspects of development
- Systems biology