GENE 412 is designed for students undertaking postgraduate research, incorporating
genetic information and approaches. Most students enrolled in this paper are Genetics
BSc graduates undertaking postgraduate research at Honours, Postgraduate Diploma or
Master's level. However, this paper is also potentially valuable for students undertaking
genetics-related postgraduate research projects in departments such as Anatomy, Biochemistry,
Botany, Ecology, Law, Mathematics, Microbiology or Zoology.
The paper addresses
a wide range of current topics in the field of genetics and aims to develop critical
thinking and research skills by drawing on fields such as medical genetics, developmental
genetics, neurogenetics, evolutionary genetics and genomics. The specific topics that
are incorporated may change each year.
| Paper title | Current Topics in Genetics |
|---|---|
| Paper code | GENE412 |
| Subject | Genetics |
| EFTS | 0.1667 |
| Points | 20 points |
| Teaching period | Second Semester |
| Domestic Tuition Fees (NZD) | $1,307.76 |
| International Tuition Fees (NZD) | $6,017.70 |
- Eligibility
- There are no formal prerequisites, but students need to have suitable undergraduate
training and to have been admitted to postgraduate study. Most students have completed
a BSc majoring in Genetics or a related field.
Enrolments for this paper require departmental permission. View more information about departmental permission. - Contact
- More information link
- Teaching staff
Convenor: Associate Professor Richard Macknight (Department of Biochemistry)
Other teaching staff (2018):
Dr Chris Brown (Biochemistry), Associate Professor David Orlovich (Botany) & Dr Paul Gardner (Biochemistry)
Dr Lynette Brownfield (Biochemistry) & Associate Professor Richard Macknight (Biochemistry)
Teaching staff vary each year, depending on staff availability and the topics that are covered.
- Paper Structure
Each course comprises four modules, addressing diverse genetics topics such as:
- Developmental genetics
- Stem cell genetics
- Evolutionary Genomics
- Crop Improvement
Modules typically run over two consecutive weeks, with students normally presenting discussions and critiques in the second week of each module.
- Textbooks
- No specific texts are recommended as this is a research-based postgraduate paper. PDF files of recent journal articles and review papers are placed on Blackboard. Students are expected to identify additional resource material themselves.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Scholarship, Communication, Critical
thinking, Cultural understanding, Ethics, Self-motivation, Teamwork.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
- The academic objectives of GENE 412 are to understand current research topics in genetics and to critically assess, synthesise and present genetic research concepts.
