Complex Disease Genomics: linking genome to phenome BIOL5449

  • Academic Session: 2024-25
  • School: School of Health and Wellbeing
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No

Short Description

This course will provide students with an overview of the current status and future potential of genetics for complex diseases (focusing on cardiovascular, metabolic and psychiatric illness). It will cover key concepts of Genome wide association studies (GWAS), post-GWAS analyses, polygenic risk scoring, and Mendelian randomization.

Timetable

Weekly lectures throughout Semester 2.

Requirements of Entry

None

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

1: Group presentation (25%) (ILO 1-3)
2: 1500-2000-word assignment (75%) (ILO 1-4)

Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? No

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

 

Group work is not re-assessable.

Course Aims

To provide the students with knowledge and training for:

■ An up-to-date overview of the genetics of complex diseases and interpretation of population level genetic studies 

■ Discovery of genetic targets causal for the complex traits including performing drug target analyses using identified GWAS targets

■ Using genetics to predict complex disease

■ The benefits/limitations of how genetics can be used advance precision medicine approaches

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Critically evaluate a genetic association study and post-GWAS analyses methods including Polygenic Risk Scoring and Mendelian Randomization.

2. Critically discuss the current state of complex disease genetics, with reference to cardiovascular, metabolic or psychiatric illness.

3. Describe how genomics can be used to advance prediction and prevention of cardiovascular, metabolic or psychiatric illness.

4. Critically discuss the use of genome analyses techniques for applications such as drug target analyses and discovery of new drugs for complex disease.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.