CORE001 The Stories of Science: Gene

Faculty of Science
autumn 2021
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
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: prof. RNDr. Jan Šmarda, CSc.
Supplier department: Department of Experimental Biology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Wed 8:00–9:50 B11/132
Prerequisites
! Bi0002 The Stories of Science: Gene
Discovery of gene marked fundamental breakthrough in Biology and significantly affected social phenomena, such as policy and ethics.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
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 discussions.
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 annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (autumn 2021, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/autumn2021/CORE001