Biology - Genes and Gene Technology
ID: 373 | Video: Low | Audio: Low | Animation: None
Equivalent to FETAC: Level 5 | Equivalent to QCF (UK): Level 3
Learn about DNA technology today
It is over sixty years since the structure of DNA was first discovered by Watson and Crick. Since then work in genetics and gene technology has expanded to the point where the entire human genome has been sequenced, and there is now hope of being able to cure diseases using gene therapy. There is also on-going work in the area of modifying plant DNA to produce pest-resistant crops that give bigger harvests for more food. Today, people need a thorough knowledge and understanding of genetics and gene therapy so that they can make up their own minds as to the potential benefits and drawbacks of what this field of science can offer us. In this free online course you will discover what genes do and explore and come to understand reference terms such as meiosis and mitosis. The course also covers evolutionary aspects of DNA and the genome. You will also learn about gene technology which includes gene testing, gene therapy and the controversial area of genetic modification in plants. This course will be of great interest to professionals working in the areas of biology, medicine and development, to learners who would like a career in the areas of genetics and gene technology, and to anyone interested in understanding the basic area of science that underpins all living existence.
Modules in Biology - Genes and Gene Technology
In this course you will: - develop an appreciation of the huge variety of different mammals that exist on Earth today; - see how fossil evidence can help us to understand evolutionary history; - understand how the structure of DNA can help us to detect differences between different species; - apply the techniques of DNA analysis to work out which mammals are most closely related to each other; - how the linear sequence of DNA within a gene is related to the linear sequence of amino acids of a protein - how the information in DNA is carried via RNA to make a protein - how RNA is synthesised from DNA by the process of transcription - the number of chromosomes is characteristic of each species and can vary enormously between species - genetics is based on the concept of the gene as the unit of inheritance - the role of a genetic counsellor and its non-directiveness - the difference between pre-natal diagnosis, childhood testing and adult testing and give some examples of diseases that may be tested for - understand more about the science that underlies the development of genetically modified organisms and in particular how gene transfer is brought about; - understand some of the social issues surrounding the development of GM crops;
Babatunde Akinwumi - Nigeria
2013-05-18 12:05:00
Course Module: Module 1: Evolution, DNA and the GenomeCourse Topic: The odd one outComment: COURSE: GENES AND GENE TECHNOLOGY: TOPIC IN MODULE 1: The old one out: Comment : I gained more understanding from this topic, it lets me know the one that is the most different from others in its appearance, and the most different habitat which is whale. whale has no legs, it lives in the sea while other live on land. In its appearance, it gives proper evidence to know that it is most different amoung others. I can say that rhino is the old one out because it is very endangering amoung others.
Babatunde Akinwumi - Nigeria
2013-05-05 14:05:08
Course Module: Module 1: Evolution, DNA and the GenomeCourse Topic: Introduction to the evolution of mammalsComment: Course module: Module1: Evolution, DNA and The Genome. Course Topic: Introduction to the evolution of mammals. This introduction makes me know many mammals that belongs to the same group and it makes me know how many section of mammals that has placental. It makes know the mammals that evolved from common ancentor to different groups which do not have placental, which is monotremes and marsupials mammal. It is really encourages me to learn more about this course. It is very interesting.
Hiba Shafique - Saudi Arabia
2012-09-21 12:09:42
Course Module: Module 4: Gene Testing and Gene Therapy
Course Topic: Introduction to genetic testing
Comment: i love this course it have just cleared al of my concepts i think every medical student must do it
Joshua Stone - Ghana
2012-03-07 05:03:46
Course Module: Module 1: Evolution, DNA and the Genome
Course Topic: The chemical structure of DNA
Comment: I found that the terminology on DNA and genome quite insightful. Through my own collective research, I discovered that the word genome comes from Greece (γίνομαι) meaning " I become, I am born, to come into being". It's also known that the Oxford English Dictionary suggests that the name should be a blend of words, gene and chromosome creating the existence of genome. A few related - ome already existed, such as biome and rhizome, forming a vocabulary into which genome fits in systematically.In modern molecular biology and genetic, the genome of the entirety of an organism hereditary information. It is encoded either in the DNA or for many types of virus, in the RNA.The genome includes both the genes and the non-coding sequences of the DNA/RNA. The term was adapted in 1920 by Hans Winkler, Professor of Botany at the University of Hamburg in Germany.