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What will I study?
Overview
A Genetics major includes studies in molecular genetics, human genetics, evolutionary genetics and genomics – key foundational knowledge for studies in the fields of biology, biomedical sciences, biotechnology, ecology and conservation. You’ll also develop skills in experimental design, data recording and analysis, and scientific writing.
Your major structure
This major can be completed through the Bachelor of Biomedicine or the Bachelor of Science.
BACHELOR OF BIOMEDICINE
You will take 10 core subjects (150 points) across your degree that will build an understanding of the structure and function of the body and consideration of the determinants of health and disease, including genetic and environmental influences (6 in first year, 2 in second year and 2 in third year).
In third year you will also complete 50 points (four subjects) of study that is deep and specialised study in Genetics. To complete this major you will also need to select 2 pre-requisite subjects (25 points) in your second year.
Throughout your degree you will also take elective and breadth (non-science) subjects.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
In your first and secondyears you will complete subjects that are prerequisites for your major, including biology and foundational genetics subjects.
In your third year, you will complete 50 points (four subjects) of study that is deep and specialised study in genetics.
Throughout your degree you will also take science elective subjects and breadth (non-science) subjects, in addition to your major subjects and prerequisites.
Sample course plan
View some sample course plans to help you select subjects that will meet the requirements for this major.
Sample course plan - BSc Genetics Major
KEY
- Major core prerequisite
- Science elective
- Breadth
- Recommended
- Breadth/Science elective
- Major core
- Major elective
Year 1
Total
100 Points
Semester 1
50 Points
- Major core prer...
BIOL10004 Biology of Cells and Organisms
12.5 Points
- Science electiv...
12.5 Points
- Science electiv...
12.5 Points
- Breadth
12.5 Points
- Major core prer...
Semester 2
50 Points
- Major core prer...
BIOL10005 Genetics & The Evolution of Life
12.5 Points
- Science electiv...
12.5 Points
- Science electiv...
12.5 Points
- Breadth
12.5 Points
- Major core prer...
Year 2
Total
100 Points
Semester 1
50 Points
- Major core prer...
GENE20001 Foundations of Genetics and Genomics
12.5 Points
- Recommended
MAST20031 Analysis of Biological Data
12.5 Points
- Science electiv...
12.5 Points
- Breadth/Science...
12.5 Points
- Major core prer...
Semester 2
50 Points
- Major core prer...
GENE20003 Experiments in Genetics
12.5 Points
- Major core prer...
GENE20002 Genes and Genomes
12.5 Points
- Science electiv...
12.5 Points
- Breadth
12.5 Points
- Major core prer...
Year 3
Total
100 Points
Semester 1
50 Points
- Major core
GENE30001 Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics
12.5 Points
- Major core
GENE30002 Genes: Organisation and Function
12.5 Points
- Science electiv...
12.5 Points
- Breadth/Science...
12.5 Points
- Major core
Semester 2
50 Points
- Major core
GENE30004 Genetic Analysis
12.5 Points
- Major elective
GENE30005 Human and Medical Genetics
12.5 Points
- Science electiv...
12.5 Points
- Breadth
12.5 Points
- Major core
Sample course plan - BSc Genetics Major Mid-year intake
KEY
- Major core prerequisite
- Science elective
- Breadth
- Recommended
- Breadth/Science elective
- Major core
- Major elective
Year 1
Total
100 Points
Semester 2
50 Points
- Major core prer...
BIOL10005 Genetics & The Evolution of Life
12.5 Points
- Science electiv...
12.5 Points
- Science electiv...
12.5 Points
- Breadth
12.5 Points
- Major core prer...
Semester 1
50 Points
- Major core prer...
BIOL10004 Biology of Cells and Organisms
12.5 Points
- Major core prer...
GENE20001 Foundations of Genetics and Genomics
12.5 Points
- Recommended
MAST10011 Experimental Design and Data Analysis
12.5 Points
- Breadth
12.5 Points
- Major core prer...
Year 2
Total
100 Points
Semester 2
50 Points
- Major core prer...
GENE20002 Genes and Genomes
12.5 Points
- Major core prer...
GENE20003 Experiments in Genetics
12.5 Points
- Science electiv...
12.5 Points
- Breadth/Science...
12.5 Points
- Major core prer...
Semester 1
50 Points
- Major core prer...
GENE30001 Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics
12.5 Points
- Major core prer...
GENE30002 Genes: Organisation and Function
12.5 Points
- Science electiv...
12.5 Points
- Breadth
12.5 Points
- Major core prer...
Year 3
Total
100 Points
Semester 2
50 Points
- Major core
GENE30004 Genetic Analysis
12.5 Points
- Science electiv...
12.5 Points
- Science electiv...
12.5 Points
- Breadth/Science...
12.5 Points
- Major core
Semester 1
50 Points
- Major elective
CEDB30002 Concepts in Cell & Developmental Biology
12.5 Points
- Science electiv...
12.5 Points
- Science electiv...
12.5 Points
- Breadth
12.5 Points
- Major elective
Sample course plan - B-BMED Genetics Major
KEY
- Core
- Breadth
- Major prerequisite
- Elective
- Major core
- Breadth/Selective
- Major elective
Year 1
Total
100 Points
Semester 1
50 Points
- Core
BIOL10002 Biomolecules and Cells
12.5 Points
- Core
MAST10011 Experimental Design and Data Analysis
12.5 Points
- Core
CHEM10006 Chemistry for Biomedicine
12.5 Points
- Breadth
12.5 Points
- Core
Semester 2
50 Points
- Core
BIOL10003 Genes and Environment
12.5 Points
- Core
MAST10016 Mathematics for Biomedicine
12.5 Points
- Core
PHYC10007 Physics for Biomedicine
12.5 Points
- Breadth
12.5 Points
- Core
Year 2
Total
100 Points
Semester 1
50 Points
- Core
BIOM20001 Molecular and Cellular Biomedicine
25 Points
- Major prerequis...
GENE20001 Foundations of Genetics and Genomics
12.5 Points
- Breadth
12.5 Points
- Core
Semester 2
50 Points
- Core
BIOM20002 Human Structure and Function
25 Points
- Elective
12.5 Points
- Breadth
12.5 Points
- Core
Year 3
Total
100 Points
Semester 1
50 Points
- Core
BIOM30002 Biomedicine: Molecule to Malady
12.5 Points
- Major core
GENE30001 Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics
12.5 Points
- Major core
GENE30002 Genes: Organisation and Function
12.5 Points
- Breadth/Selecti...
12.5 Points
- Core
Semester 2
50 Points
- Core
BIOM30001 Frontiers in Biomedicine
12.5 Points
- Major core
GENE30004 Genetic Analysis
12.5 Points
- Major elective
GENE30005 Human and Medical Genetics
12.5 Points
- Breadth/Selecti...
12.5 Points
- Core
Explore this major
Explore the subjects you could choose as part of this major.
Core
- 12.5 pts
The emphasis of this subject is on understanding how evolutionary forces shape the gene pool, on the use of molecular markers in genome mapping, in dissecting polygenic traits by mapping quantitative trait loci, and in other applications such as phylogenetics and conservation biology. The topics covered will be classical population genetics, the impact of natural selection, processes of speciation, conservation genetics, evolution of development, phylogenetic reconstruction, development of saturated linkage maps, physical mapping of genomes, mapping quantitative trait loci, comparative genomics, functional genomics and high-throughout methods of scoring genetic polymorphisms.
- 12.5 pts
This subject focuses on gene structure, function and regulation, which form the molecular basis of many important biological phenomena such as short-term organismal and cellular responses to rapid changes in environmental conditions and long-term controls of development. The molecular mechanisms underlying these phenomena are frequently exploited in biotechnology, medical and agricultural applications. The modern molecular techniques used to study these processes will be presented. The topics to be covered in this subject include prokaryotic and eukaryotic gene structure; action and regulation; genomic and recombinant DNA methodology; molecular genetic manipulation of a wide variety of organisms to generate defined changes in the genome; the cell cycle and developmental genetics.
- 12.5 pts
The subject provides a capstone experience for students majoring in Genetics. It involves lectures and practical exercises which demonstrate advanced principles and techniques of genetic analysis from classical and population genetics to modern molecular technology. An emphasis is placed on student participation in experimental design and data analysis. Tutorials will be used to illustrate modern aspects of Genetics by the in-depth consideration of current publications in the field.
Elective
- 12.5 pts
This subject will describe the molecular mechanisms underpinning eukaryotic cell organisation, morphology and behaviour and their importance in biomedicine. We will explore the relationships between cellular organisation and the biological functions of normal, stressed and malignant cells, as well experimental strategies for investigating the molecular basis of these relationships. The subject matter includes the compartmentalisation of eukaryotic cells; intracellular RNA and protein traffic; the structure, function and biogenesis of subcellular organelles; protein folding and maturation; vesicle-mediated transport; structure and function of the extracellular matrix and cell adhesion molecules and their role in diseased states such as malignancies; cellular stress responses and linked signal transduction events; cytoskeletal structures and the signal transduction processes regulating the assembly and disassembly of actin-cytoskeleton; molecular processes determining cell movement and shape changes; imaging of processes within live cells.
- 12.5 pts
The subject develops a student’s knowledge of cell and developmental biology, introduced in second year subjects. The subject is arranged for students to gain an understanding of the approaches used to study cell biology and developmental biology and an appreciation of the major concepts involved in the development of a range of organisms – including microbes, invertebrates, vertebrates and plants. A particular focus is the range of approaches (genetic, cellular, anatomical and physiological) that are used to investigate biological systems and address current biological and biomedical problems, including human development, health and disease. This multi-disciplinary subject is co-taught by staff in the departments of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Botany, Genetics, and Zoology. A feature of this course is the application of this knowledge in pure and applied research and thus will provide a platform for students in many Life Science majors, including Biotechnology and Cell & Developmental Biology majors.
- 12.5 pts
This subject explores the relevance of ecological and evolutionary theory for understanding the distributions of species, their interactions, their life history characteristics and how these traits are impacted by changing environmental conditions. Topics include spatial ecology and metapopulations, climatic impacts on distribution and abundance, life history evolution and ecosystem stability and resilience. The skills developed in this subject provide an essential grounding for careers in ecology.
- 12.5 pts
How human are humans? Is Darwin’s extraordinary idea relevant for our species? This subject examines the role of evolution in shaping human biology, by examining our past origins, our current behavior and life-histories, and our future relationships with other organisms. Topics include the evolutionary history of hominids, patterns of migration and variation in skin colour; human reproductive strategies and sex ratios; why language makes us different; how genes and environment shape sexual and cooperative behavior; antagonistic co-evolutionary processes and antimicrobial resistance, pathogen virulence, and management of natural resources. Lectures draw on contemporary examples from the primary literature, complemented with TV documentaries. There is a strong emphasis on distinguishing between unsubstantiated conjecture and concepts that are supported by rigorous science.
- 12.5 pts
This subject describes how bacteria have evolved specialized structures and proteins that allow them to adapt and survive in a range of environments. In particular this subject will examine the contribution of processes such as protein secretion and gene regulation to bacterial survival during infection of humans (i.e. pathogenesis). From an understanding of the molecular basis of host-pathogen interactions, students will be able to understand the diverse mechanisms bacteria use to cause disease, and how infectious diseases are spread. A range of medically important bacteria will be discussed, with an emphasis on their ecology, pathogenesis and the pathobiology of the disease. The subject will also describe techniques and strategies such as mutant construction and molecular cloning that are used to dissect microbial function, and cover applied aspects of medical microbiology, such as the diagnosis of infections, the mechanisms of action of antimicrobial agents, as well as resistance to these agents. Students should be able to apply this knowledge to the determination of strategies for prevention, control and recognition of disease, including the design of vaccines and other therapeutics.
- 12.5 pts
This subject will introduce the general principles and modern methods of plant evolutionary biology: how to discover the phylogeny (relationships) of organisms using both morphological characters and molecular (DNA) data; how to use this information to improve the classification systems of plants; how to study aspects of evolution, coevolution and historical biogeography; and how to integrate information from living and fossil plants to discover the past and date evolutionary events. Examples of the diversity and evolution of Australian plants - both fossil and living forms - will be used throughout this subject. Topics will include:
- discovering plant relationships phylogenetic systematics;
- evolution of vascular plants, especially flowering plants;
- fossil history of land plants;
- historical biogeography and evolution of Australian flora.
- 12.5 pts
This subject will describe the development, function and regulation of cells of the immune system; immunoglobulins; cytokines; immunological mechanisms operating in immunity to infectious disease; autoimmunity; hypersensitivity; and transplantation and tumour immunology.
- 12.5 pts
This subject will describe the wide range of structures, functions and interactions of proteins and their importance in biological processes, biomedicine and biotechnology. Emphasis will be on the three-dimensional structure of proteins and their interactions with peptides, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids and other physiologically important molecules. We will describe experimental and computational techniques and how they help in determining and predicting protein structure and function and aid in the development of new drugs. The subject matter addresses the general properties of protein structure; the major classes and topologies of proteins; evolution of sequence, structure and function; protein synthesis, folding, misfolding, targeting and trafficking; bioinformatics analysis of protein sequence and structure; binding of small molecules to proteins and drug design; protein-protein interactions; effects of mutations on tertiary structure, protein stability and biological functions; enzyme reaction kinetics and mechanisms. This subject is required for completion of a major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
- 12.5 pts
This subject focuses on several key areas in contemporary human genetics: mutation in humans and its molecular basis; polymorphisms; selection and its consequences; gene mapping; strategies for identifying genes which cause human disease; the molecular basis of genetic diseases; genetics of cancer and ageing; the Human Genome Project and its applications; screening for genetic diseases; genetic counselling, human cytogenetics and gene environment interactions. Ethical issues will be discussed in context in various sections of the course.
- 12.5 pts
Topics will include structure, function, and development of the reproductive organs; endocrine and neuroendocrine and environmental control of reproduction, fertilisation, pregnancy, parturition and lactation in humans and other animals; reproductive diseases and disorders; assisted reproductive technologies; and reproduction in a community and global perspective.