PřF:Bi0002 The Stories of Science: Gene - Course Information

Bi0002 The Stories of Science: Gene

Extent and Intensity

2/0/0. 2 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching

Teacher(s)

prof. RNDr. Jan Šmarda, CSc. (lecturer)

Guaranteed by

prof. RNDr. Jan Šmarda, CSc.
Department of Experimental Biology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: RNDr. Pavel Lízal, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Experimental Biology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science

Prerequisites

SOUHLAS
Discovery of gene marked fundamental breakthrough in Biology and significantly affected social phenomena, such as policy and ethics.

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

there are 6 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display

Course objectives

The aim of the course is to provide information on background in which key discoveries in genetics/genomics have been made, to introduce main personalities in the field and outcomes of these discoveries not only for science but also for practical life of human population, as they significantly affected policy in 20th century. So far, ethical consequences of some gene/genome technologies have not been solved yet and their relevance increases in these days. The aim of the course is to motivate students to think about these questions. The course is accessible to broad community of students of various fields coming from various faculties of Masaryk University. Therefore, popular and easy to follow style of teaching will be used.

Learning outcomes

Student passing this course will understand mechanisms of research within the field of genetics/genomics in broader context and familiarize himself/herslef with life stories of selected protagonists of this research to perceive the logic of their work and discoveries. He/She will understand the impact of key discoveries and danger of their premature applications for fate of selected indiciduals and all mankind.

Syllabus

• 1. Beginning of Genetics: from Darwin to Mendel and Mendel rediscovery; 2. Eugenics; 3. The road to DNA; 4. Search for connection between genes and traits; 5. Gene cloning and sequencing; 6. Production of drugs by biotechnology. 7. Genetics in medicine; 8. Genes and human identity; 9. Human genome and gene therapy.

Literature

recommended literature
• MUKHERJEE, Siddhartha. Gen. O dědičnosti v našich osudech (The Gene. An Intimate History). Překlad Jan Šmarda, Kateřina Danielová. 1st ed. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2019, 523 pp. Poprvé v češtině. Sv. 5. ISBN 978-80-210-9140-5. info

Teaching methods

Lectures and class discussion.

Assessment methods

Students are evaluated according to the quality of written essays referring to some of the themes of the course.

Language of instruction

Czech

Further comments (probably available only in Czech)

Study Materials
The course is taught last offered.
The course is taught: every week.
General note: Předmět je v semestru podzim 2024 vypsán pouze pro opakující studenty. Ostatní zájemci mohou zapsat předmět CORE001 do volné kapacity.

Listed among pre-requisites of other courses

• CORE001 The Stories of Science: Gene
  (!Bi0002) && (!NOW(Bi0002)) && !typ_studia(ND) && !forma(C) && (!program(B-UCB) && !program(B-UCC) && !program(B-UCF) && !program(B-UCM) && !program(B-UCZ) && !program(B-LGM) && !program(B-EMB) && !program(B-EKB) && !program(B-ANT))  

• Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  
• Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/autumn2024/Bi0002