Biology and Medical Genetics (LF_401)
About Study Course
Objective
To acquire knowledge of the human being as a system; the role of genetic processes in the maintenance of health and the development of metabolic diseases; the effects of teratogenic external environmental factors in embryogenesis; the role of parasites in the development of disease; and the necessary skills to apply this knowledge.
Prerequisites
In general biology according to the secondary school curriculum.
Learning outcomes
Students analyse the relevance of the cell structure of various eukaryotes to their functions; substantiates the role of the relationship between cell structure and abnormal functions in human pathology; compares the processes occurring in mitosis and meiosis; knows the main regularities of genetics; evaluates the significance of Mendel’s experiments in the development of genetics; compares the results of monohybrid, dihybrid, polyhybrid and analytic crosses; explains DNA replication, transcription, translation; knows chromosomal pathologies, the reasons for occurrence thereof, classifies the inheritance types of genetic traits and pathologies; justifies one’s opinion by analysing specific situations regarding the inheritance of human traits; explains the morphology, possible infestation, life cycle, pathogenicity and symptoms of parasites commonly found in Latvia, localisation in the human body, method of diagnosis and recommends prevention; uses the biological concepts and terms discussed in the lecture and class.
Students use an optical microscope, prepare simple microarrays, identify the most common parasites; identify different eukaryotic cells; different types of metaphase chromosomes; polytene chromosomes; explain the relationship between structure and function; graphically represent the phases of mitosis and meiosis and explain the processes involved; draw diagrams of oogenesis and spermatogenesis; compile and analyse family trees of different types of inheritance; isolate DNA from plant cells; classify types of variation and mutation; discuss mechanisms of gene, chromosome, genome mutations; solve simple tasks related to genetics and molecular biology.
Students analyse situations in medical parasitology, genetics. Evaluate the importance of organoids in the functioning of tissues, organs and the body.
