Accessibility statement

Genomics - BIO00087H

« Back to module search

  • Department: Biology
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Daniel Jeffares
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
    • See module specification for other years: 2023-24

Module summary

Genomics has become one fundamental component of biological science. It is used in biomedicine, ecology, industrial microbiology, cell biology and evolutionary genetics. This is a relatively new discipline, that uses its own computational methods and concepts. This module teaches the current state of the art in genomic science and genome data analysis. Topics include genome biology in the tree of life, genome function, evolutionary concepts, collaborative projects and databases and ethics. This module will explain current DNA/RNA sequencing technologies, genome assembly, annotation and interpretation of genomic data. Workshops will provide an opportunity to develop skills and awareness of a variety of data analysis methods.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2024-25

Module aims

We will provide students with the skills and concepts required to carry out a broad range of genomic analyses, providing a window into many biological processes and phenomena. The material will be relevant to applications of genomics in a variety of academic disciplines, including cancer biology and other biomedical fields, biotechnology and agriculture, and evolutionary biology. The module will also teach data analysis skills and provide concepts relevant to a wide variety of technological and knowledge-based careers. The module will also teach students how to present and describe genomic analyses in a written report.

Module learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this module will be able to:

Comprehend and critique different genomic technologies

Explain applications of genomics across biology

Design experiments that use genomic technology to solve a problem

Conduct analysis of genomic data using a variety of computational tools

Determine novel biological insight from newly generated sequencing data

Critically analyse research papers in genomics

Explain ethical aspects of genomics

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Written Report		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Written Report		 N/A 100

Module feedback

Marks for all summative assessments will be made available to you and your supervisor via e:vision. Feedback will be either individual or cohort-level, depending on the assessment format. You should take the opportunity to discuss your marks and feedback with your supervisor.

For exam-style summative assessment, model answers will be provided for all questions along with cohort-level feedback indicating how students answered questions in general. Marks achieved per question will be added to your script.

For coursework assessments (eg. reports or essays) you will receive individual feedback on your work. This will usually be in the form of a feedback sheet that will include suggestions for further improvement.

During the teaching of the module you will receive formative feedback that may be at a whole class or individual level. Such feedback may include: model answers and discussion of workshop questions, summaries of performance in practicals, VLE-based quizzes, individual spoken comments during workshops, individual written comments on formative work.

Indicative reading

These are available through the VLE module site.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.