GENE20020

Source: https://hub.ucd.ie/usis/!W_HU_MENU.P_PUBLISH?p_tag=MODULE&MODULE=GENE20020&TERMCODE=202500&ACYR=2026 Parent: https://hub.ucd.ie/usis/!W_HU_MENU.P_PUBLISH?p_tag=COURSE&MAJR=BGS4&AUDIENCE=

Academic Year 2025/2026

Principles of Genetics (GENE20020)

Subject: : Genetics

College: : Science

School: : Biology & Environment Science

Level: : 2 (Intermediate)

Credits: : 5

Module Coordinator: : Dr Julia Jones

Trimester: : Spring

Mode of Delivery: : On Campus

Internship Module: : No

How will I be graded? : Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

For more than a century, the knowledge of the mechanisms of heritability have provided biologists with the most robust framework to understand all biological phenomena at all levels of organisation. This module aims to provide an understanding of this. \ It is structured into four main sections: the first covers molecular genetics and looks at the structure, organisation and function of genes and genomes, and how genetic information is encoded, replicated and expressed. The second section deals with transmission genetics: the principles of heredity and how traits are passed from one generation, from single gene inheritance to quantitative trait loci. The application of these mechanisms in plant and animal breeding will also be discussed. In the third section the focus is on the evolutionary implications of genetics, examining the role of gene flow, random genetic drift and natural selection in driving evolutionary change in natural populations. The final section of the module will present an overview of phylogenetic methods and applications and illustrate the relevance of molecular genetics for inferring genealogies among taxa.

About this Module

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What will I learn?

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of the course, the students will: \ a) have a satisfactory knowledge of the basic functioning of the intracellular structures involved in heritability; \ b) be able to discover how genetic processes exert effects on the morphology, ecology and the evolution of organisms, populations, species and higher-order taxa; \ c) have the opportunity to appreciate the staggering power of molecular genetic applications in breeding, population and phylogenetics.

How will I learn?

Student Effort Hours:

Student Effort Type	Hours
Lectures	23
Practical	6
Computer Aided Lab	4
Autonomous Student Learning	91

---	---
Total	124

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:

Lectures and practicals

Am I eligible to take this module?

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Learning Requirements:\

Life on Earth (BIOL 10140); Cell Biology and Genetics (BIOL 10110).

Module Requisites and Incompatibles

Incompatibles:\ ANSC20010 - Genetics and Biotechnology, GENE20010 - Plant and Animal Genetics\ \ \ \

How will I be assessed?

Assessment Strategy

Description	Timing	Component Scale	Must Pass Component	% of Final Grade	In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): End of trimester exam	End of trimester Duration: 2 hr(s)	Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40%	No	60	No
Quizzes/Short Exercises: Continuous assessment of practical classes including MCQs and other exercises	Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8	Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40%	No	25	No
Quizzes/Short Exercises: Eight online quizzes to be completed each week by Friday at 11.59 pm (in Achieve) One practice online quiz will be given	Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 7, Week 8, Week 10, Week 11	Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40%	No	15	No

Carry forward of passed components

What happens if I fail?

Resit In	Terminal Exam
Autumn	Yes - 2 Hour

Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. \

Assessment feedback

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment\

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Students will be given class feedback post assessment

Associated Staff

Name	Role
Assoc Professor Jens Carlsson	Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Monica De Gaetano	Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Graham Hughes	Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Julia Jones	Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Joanna Kacprzyk	Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Rainer Melzer	Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Susanne Schilling	Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Emma Teeling	Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Carlotta Sacchi	Tutor

When is this module offered?

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.


Spring	Lecture	Offering 1	Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33	Thurs 09:00 - 09:50
Spring	Lecture	Offering 1	Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, 31, 32, 33	Tues 09:00 - 09:50
Spring	Lecture	Offering 1	Week(s) - 29	Tues 09:00 - 09:50
Spring	Practical	Offering 1	Week(s) - 22, 24	Fri 09:00 - 10:50
Spring	Practical	Offering 1	Week(s) - 23	Fri 09:00 - 10:50
Spring	Tutorial	Offering 1	Week(s) - 25	Fri 09:00 - 10:50
Spring	Tutorial	Offering 1	Week(s) - 26	Fri 09:00 - 10:50
Spring	Practical	Offering 2	Week(s) - 22, 24	Fri 09:00 - 10:50
Spring	Practical	Offering 2	Week(s) - 23	Fri 09:00 - 10:50
Spring	Tutorial	Offering 2	Week(s) - 25	Fri 09:00 - 10:50
Spring	Tutorial	Offering 2	Week(s) - 26	Fri 09:00 - 10:50
Spring	Practical	Offering 5	Week(s) - 22, 24	Fri 15:00 - 16:50
Spring	Practical	Offering 5	Week(s) - 23	Fri 15:00 - 16:50
Spring	Tutorial	Offering 5	Week(s) - 25	Fri 15:00 - 16:50
Spring	Tutorial	Offering 5	Week(s) - 26	Fri 15:00 - 16:50
Spring	Practical	Offering 7	Week(s) - 22, 24	Fri 15:00 - 16:50
Spring	Practical	Offering 7	Week(s) - 23	Fri 15:00 - 16:50
Spring	Tutorial	Offering 7	Week(s) - 25	Fri 15:00 - 16:50
Spring	Tutorial	Offering 7	Week(s) - 26	Fri 15:00 - 16:50
Spring	Practical	Offering 8	Week(s) - 22, 24	Fri 15:00 - 16:50
Spring	Practical	Offering 8	Week(s) - 23	Fri 15:00 - 16:50
Spring	Tutorial	Offering 8	Week(s) - 25	Fri 15:00 - 16:50
Spring	Tutorial	Offering 8	Week(s) - 26	Fri 15:00 - 16:50

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