Molecular Genetics

Description

The University of Dundee is recognised internationally as one of the leading centres for biochemical research, including areas such as cell signalling, cell and developmental biology, cell division, diabetes and cancer research.

Our teaching is research-led, meaning that the degree programmes benefit from association with research of international standard and its commercial and biomedical applications, and from the active participation of many leading scientists in the field.

Biochemistry involves the study of complex processes in cells and organisms at the molecular level. Molecular genetics is concerned with the structure and function of the genetic material, and molecular biology with the functions of the cell's macromolecules.

The boundaries between Biochemistry and its related disciplines are, however, becoming less distinct. We reflect this by providing a common structure to the degree programmes for these subjects in your first three years of study.

Depending upon your choice of project and taught topics at Level 4 you can graduate with a degree in either Biochemistry, Molecular Biology or Molecular Genetics.

Practical experience

Dundee can offer you a range of Level 4 Research Projects in leading laboratories because of its high level of top-rated research activity in these areas.

A degree in Biochemistry, Molecular Genetics or Molecular Biology opens the door to many career options. Graduates in these areas are in great demand in the pharmaceutical, agricultural, food, biotechnology and healthcare industries, with openings for laboratory work or in the marketing, sales and management areas. Comparable openings can be found in the various agricultural, medical and veterinary research institutes, hospitals and the scientific Civil Service.

Dundee is a rapidly expanding centre for biotechnology with new firms opening and forming links with Dundee University biochemists. Work placements are encouraged and provide an exciting taste of the new industries. Many of our students enter areas of employment not directly related to science, often as trainee managers or salespersons.

Some of our students proceed to higher degrees (MSc or PhD) and go on to undertake or supervise original research, and others go on to take a degree in Medicine.

We offer a number of Masters level courses in addition to PhD research opportunities in the College of Life Sciences.

UCAS Code: C431

Detailed Course Facts

The fees you pay will, in most cases, depend on your current country of residence.

The fee shown is annual, and may be subject to an increase each year.

Fee category

Fees for students starting September 2015

Scottish students

£1,820 per year of study (for Sept 2014 entry). Fees for September 2015 will be confirmed by the Scottish Government in early 2015.

Rest of UK students

£9,000 per year, for a maximum of 3 years, even if you are studying a four year degree. See our scholarships for rest of UK applicants.

EU students

£1,820 per year of study (for Sept 2014 entry). Fees for September 2015 will be confirmed by the Scottish Government in early 2015.

Overseas students (non-EU)

£15,950 per year of study. See our scholarships for international applicants.

• English

Course Content

Typical Degree Programme

Levels 1 and 2

All Life Sciences degree programmes share common core modules at Level 1 that provide a general introduction to the life sciences through an integrated programme of lectures, tutorials, practical work and field excursions.

Please refer to the Biological/Biomedical Sciences degree structure and overview webpage for details of the common curriculum in Levels 1 and 2.

Level 3

At Level 3 you specialise much more in biochemistry, molecular genetics and molecular biology, and you choose additional subjects that interest you to study alongside your main subject. You will develop your knowledge and skills in the following subject areas:

• DNA structure
• Replication and repair
• Transcription
• Genome organisation
• Regulation of protein function
• Molecular genetics and proteomic analysis
• The molecular basis of inherited diseases
• Cell structure
• The cytoskeleton
• Cell adhesion
• Nuclear architecture
• Immunology
• Signal transduction
• The regulation of cell growth and division
• Summer work placements

Many students take advantage of opportunities for summer work placements, normally between Levels 3 and 4, which are available as externally-funded competitive placements, or as voluntary laboratory work.

Level 4

Your studies at Level 4 will be at the level of current research in your chosen subject area.

Advanced study of topics in biochemistry, molecular genetics and molecular biology with additional options chosen from related subject areas such as microbiology and developmental biology. The range of topics that is currently available includes:

• The cell cycle
• Eukaryotic gene expression
• Bioinformatics
• Genomics & beyond
• Cell signalling
• Protein structure & function
• Single crystal X-ray diffraction
• Protein secretion & targeting
• Cytoskeletal function
• The molecular biology of infection and immunity
• Immunotechnology
• Antibiotic resistance
• Virus molecular biology
• Bacterial membrane biology
• Drug discovery for tropical diseases
• Molecular oncology

Your studies will involve extensive use of scientific literature and the opportunity to attend a regular programme of seminars given by invited speakers from Britain and abroad.

Research project - several formats are available including laboratory-based research under the supervision of a leading scientist, computer modelling, multimedia teaching packages, literature and electronic database review.

All modules are assessed by a combination of in-course and end-of-course procedures. Regular in-course assessments (e.g. practical reports, computer-based exercises, essays and data processing exercises) provide feedback on your progress and help you prepare for end-of-module examinations.

On-line assignments are used extensively at Levels 1 and 2, with access via a PC on or off campus. Peer assessment operates in many team projects.

Requirements

See Course Homepage for Full Details

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than University of Dundee.