INTRODUCTION
1.1 These regulations shall be read in conjunction with the Special Faculty and General Academic Regulations.
1.2 The course develops from observations of biological phenomena at the broadest scales (Biosphere and Ecosystems) to those at the finest (molecular) level. Strong emphasis is placed throughout on methods of biological investigations. The interrelationship of Biological Sciences to other subjects is stressed, although, the distinctiveness of Biology should also be apparent.
2. OBJECTIVES
2.1 After completing the programme, students should be able to: work in Biology related fields, carry out postgraduate studies in Biological Sciences and other related fields, provide solutions to environmental problems and participate actively in the development of the country.
3. CAREER PROSPECTS
Graduates with the BSc Honours degree Biological Sciences can be employed as the following:
– research scientists in research institutions and medical laboratories,
– ecologists with National Parks or environmental organizations,
– microbiologists in the food and pharmaceutical industries,
– geneticists in plant and animal breeding,
– entomologists in research institutions,
– parasitologists in research institutions and medical laboratories,
– curators in various disciplines in the Natural History Museum,
– botanists in research institutions and National Parks, and
– lecturers in Technical colleges as well as A’ Level Biology teachers.
4. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
In order to qualify for acceptance into the BSc (Honours) degree in Biological Sciences, a student should possess the following qualifications:
4.1 Normal Entry
Passes at “A” level in Biology and any one of the following subjects: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry or Geography.
4.2 Special Entry
The following persons may apply for Special Entry and for permission to proceed to a first degree with exemption from the whole or part of the normal entry requirements:-
4.2.1 A person who has obtained a degree of this or another University or degree awarding institution.
4.2.2 A person who has obtained from another University or an Institution of similar status, academic qualifications (other than degrees) acceptable to Senate. These may include a diploma in Education, Forestry, Fisheries, Entomology, Food Science and Biological Sciences.
4.2.3 Students who qualify under the Special Entry may apply to Senate to be exempted from certain modules and examinations.
4.3 Mature Entry
Refer to Section 3.3 of the General Regulations.
5. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Refer to Section 4 of the Faculty Regulations
6. ASSESSMENT
Refer to Section 5 of the Faculty Regulations
7. FAILURE TO SATISFY EXAMINERS
Refer to Section 9 of the General Regulations.
8. PROVISIONS FOR PROGRESSION
Refer to Section 7 of the Faculty Regulations.
9. WORK RELATED LEARNING GENERAL GUIDELINES
Refer to Section 8 of the Faculty Regulations.
10. GRADING AND DEGREE CLASSIFICATION
Refer to Section 10 of the Faculty Regulations.
11. DEGREE WEIGHTING
Refer to Section 11 of the Faculty Regulations.
12. PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
N.B. * denotes core modules
Level 1 Semester 1
| Code | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HBIO101 | * Diversity of Life I | 4 |
| HBIO102 | * Diversity of Life II | 4 |
| HBIO105 | * Cell Biology | 4 |
| HBIO106 | Biological Methods & Techniques | 4 |
| HCS101 | Introduction to Computers | 4 |
| HCS102 | Introduction to Programming | 4 |
| CS 101 | * Communication Skills | 4 |
Level 1 Semester 2
| Code | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HBIO103 | * Ecology I | 4 |
| HBIO107 | Introductory Mycology | 4 |
| HBIO104 | * Genetics and Evolution | 4 |
| HBIO109 | * Plant Form and Function | 4 |
| HBIO110 | * Biomathematics I | 4 |
| HBIO111 | Immunology | 4 |
| CS 101 | * Communication Skills | 4 |
Level 2 Semester 1
| Code | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HBIO209 | * Vertebrate Biology (HBIO102) | 4 |
| HBIO202 | * Bacteriology (HBIO101) | 4 |
| HBIO203 | * Mycology (HBIO101/ HBIO107) | 4 |
| HBIO206 | * Plant Physiology (HBIO109) | 4 |
| HBIO210 | * Applied Ecology (HBIO 103) | 4 |
| HBIO212 | Nutritional Biology (HBIO108) | 4 |
| CT211 | Quality Management | 4 |
| GS201 | Gender Studies | 4 |
Level 2 Semester 2
| Code | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HBIO201 | Ethology 4 HBIO204 Enzyme Technology (HBIO 212) | 4 |
| HBIO205 | * Invertebrate Biology (HBIO 102) | 4 |
| HBIO208 | * Arthropod Biology (HBIO 102) | 4 |
| HBIO207 | Biotechnology | 4 |
| HBIO211 | * Animal Physiology (HBIO 102) | 4 |
| HBIO213 | * Molecular Genetics (HBIO 104) | 4 |
Level 3 Semesters 1 and 2
| Code | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HBIO301 | Work Related Learning Report | 15 |
| HBIO302 | Academic Supervisor’s Report | 15 |
| HBIO303 | Employer’s Assessment Report | 10 |
Level 4 Semester 1 and 2
| Code | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HBIO401 | * Biomathematics II (HBIO110) | 4 |
| HBIO402 | * Dissertation | 8 |
In addition to the above 2 modules, a student must register for electives offered by the department worth 36 credits.
Electives:
| Code | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HBIO403 | Animal Parasitology (HBIO205) | 4 |
| HBIO404 | Plant Nematology (HBIO205) | 4 |
| HBIO405 | Applied Entomology (HBIO205 & 208) | 4 |
| HBIO406 | Industrial Microbiology (HBIO202/204) | 4 |
| HBIO407 | Environmental Microbiology(HBIO202) | 4 |
| HBIO408 | Plant Pathology (HBIO203) | 4 |
| HBIO409 | Microbial Genetics and Virology (HBIO202/ 213/10) | 4 |
| HBIO410 | Applied Aquatic Ecology (HBIO210) | 4 |
| HBIO411 | Applied Terrestrial Ecology (HBIO210) | 4 |
| HBIO412 | Rangeland Ecology (HBIO210) | 4 |
| HBIO413 | Systematic Botany (HBIO206 & 214) | 4 |
| HBIO414 | Applied Botany (HBIO206 & 214) | 4 |
| HBIO415 | Advanced Plant Physiology HBIO206, HBIO214) | 4 |
| HBIO416 | Comparative Animal Physiology (HBIO211) | 4 |
| HBIO417 | Experimental Zoology (HBIO209) | 4 |
| HBIO418 | Ecological Animal Physiology (HBIO211, 210) | 4 |
| HBIO419 | Vertebrate Zoology (HBIO209) | 4 |
| HBIO420 | Genetic Control Mechanisms (HBIO213) | 4 |
| HBIO421 | Quantitative and Population Genetics (HBIO213) | 4 |
| HBIO422 | Applied Genetics (HBIO213) | 4 |
| HBIO423 | Advanced Molecular Genetics (HBIO213) | 4 |
11. MODULE SYNOPSES
HBIO 101 Diversity of Life I
(a) Origins of life spontaneous generation; comparative metabolism; stromatolites and other fossils; the geological time scale; the primitive atmosphere and the evolution of the genetic code.
(b) Taxonomy and phylogeny the goals of classification; the stages of classification; phenetic, cladistic, and evolutionary systemstics, taxonomic characters, homology; analogy; taxonomic keys, and phylogenetic trees.
(c ) Viruses and Monera the diversity among viruses and in the kingdom Monera
(d) Protista the diversity among the Fungi, including the division eumycota and the lichens.
(e) Fungi the diversity among the Fungi, including the division eumycota and the lichens.
(f) Plants brown algae; red algae; green algae; bryophytes; psilopsids; lycopsids; sphenopsids; ferns; gymnosperms and angiosperms; tracheophyte; leaves and adaptations to terrestrial life.
HBIO 102 Diversity of life II
Animalia: a brief outline of the grades of organisation and the evolution of the two main lines of animals (vertebrates and invertebrates; particularly arthropods).
HBIO103 Ecology I
Levels of biological organisation: individuals, populations, communities, ecosystems, and the biosphere; the hierarchial link between pattern and process; distribution and abundance of organisms in space and time: causes and consequences; concepts of habitat and niche; population growth and regulation; intra-and inter-specific interactions, including competition, predation and mutualisms.
HBIO104 Genetics and Evolution
Genetics: Mitosis and meiosis; Mendelian genetics and the chromosome theory of heredity; mutation and variation; introduction to population genetics. Evolution: population genetics and variation; the concept of, and evidence for evolution; theory of evolution by natural selection; adaptation and adaptive radiation; the nature of species; specific mate recognition systems; isolating mechanisms; speciation.
HBIO105 Cell Biology
Structure of eukaryotic cells; function of different organelles, membrane structures including modifications e.g. gap and tight junctions; transport across membranes; membrane synthesis, protein synthesis; sorting and delivery the organelles involved, the role of lysosomes in recycling cellular components, functional importance of motochondrial membranes in respiration, the components of the cytoskeleton; cell motility; cell differentiation, unlimited cell growth and cancer cells.
HBIO106 Biological Methods and Techniques
Laboratory safety practices and procedures; Preparation of solutions and standards in laboratories; Absorbency spectroscopy, principles, techniques and biological applications; Electrophoresis, types, principles and applications of each type; Centrifugation, basis, types and applications; Chromatography; Introduction to biosensors.
HBIO107 Introductory Mycology
Fungal taxonomy; life cycles; mycelial organisation and growth; nutrition and extracellular enzyme function; reproduction; mycogenetics. Conidiogenesis spore liberation, dispersal and germination. Ecological roles of fungi levels of saprotrophy, necrotrophy and biotrophy.
HBIO109 Plant Form and Function
Integrated structure and function of higher plants, Basic plant anatomy and architecture/morphology, Tissues of the higher plant body and their functions, Tissue organisation in the various organs (including wood structure), Reproductive structures; seeds; fruits and dispersal mechanisms, General adaptations of anatomy and morphology to environment.
HBIO110 Biomathematics I
What is Statistics? Variability and error; precision and accuracy. Summarising data- populations and samples; descriptive statistics, graphical presentation of data, measures of the centre, measures of dispersion, Estimation and hypothesis testing the normal distribution, inferences about the mean, standard error of sample mean, testing hypotheses about mean, t-tests, confidence intervals, comparing two samples. Contigency tables; Chi-squared tests for two- way tables. Mann Whitney U-test, relative merits of parametric and non- parametric procedures.
HBIO 111 Immunology
Definition of immunology; cellular participants in immune response i.e. leukocytes; types of immunity, passive vs acquired, cytotoxic T lymphocytes, cytokines; primary and secondary responses; antigens and antigen processing; structure and functions of antibodies (the immunoglobulin fold, including experiments that led to the elaboration of this structure); Antibody – antigen interactions, non-covalent interactions, affinity, avidity, specificity; Antibody – antigen reactions (neutralisation, precipitation, agglutination); Theory of vaccination; Basis of cellular immunity – clonal selection theory of McFarlane Burnet; Immune tolerance; Monoclonal vs polyclonal antibodies; AIDS and HIV -immunological basis.
CS101 Communication Skills
Refer to Department of Communication Skills Centre
HCS101 Introduction to Computers and Computer Systems
Refer to the Department of Computer Science
HBIO 201 Ethology
Evolution of behaviour. Social behaviour e.g. human society. Communication in animals. Cultures. General information transmission e.g. Aggression and Submission. Significance of mating systems. Predictive models, Plasticity of mating systems. Parental care of offspring, adaptive behaviour: Behaviour in influencing reproductive success, e.g. Avian mating systems.
HBIO202 Bacteriology
The history of bacteriology. The methods in microbiology, including principles of aseptic techniques, sterilisation and exenic culture. Review of bacterial cell structure. Bacterial diversity, including methods and criteria used for identification and classification. Basic principles of bacterial nutrition. Bacterial metabolic pathways; chemoautotrophy and photosynthesis. Bacterial genetics the nature and replication of the bacterial genome, mutation, transformation, transduction and conjugation.
HBIO 203 Mycology
The module covers the general characteristics, body plan, organelles and cell biology, biochemistry and cell composition, reproduction, life cycles, classification, ecology and importance of all the organisms that traditionally have been studied by mycologists such Oomycetes, slime moulds and true fungi. Emphasis will be placed on the divisions Zygomycota, Chytridiomycota, Ascomycota, and Basidiomycota. Protistan fungi such as the Oomycota and slime moulds such as the Acrasiomycota, Dictyostelliomycota and Myxomycota will also be studied.
The applied aspects of fungi such as their role as mycorrhizae, their role in medicine, industry, wood and litter decay, and in agriculture will be considered.
HBIO204 Enzyme Technology
Proteins and protein techniques, Sources of enzymes, screening and extraction from the sources; classes of enzymes with reference to conditions within they operate (acidic – alkaline, thermostable); enzyme kinetics (one substrate first order kinetics, construction of double reciprocal plots and advantages of such plots i.e. information obtained from the plots); Overview of operation of enzymes in different media – water, organic solvents and immobilisation of enzymes; Industrial applications of enzymes – scrap meat recovery, production of fructose high syrup, cellulose and lignin degradation, enzyme detergents.
HBIO 205 Invertebrate Biology
Examination of the structural and functional characteristics of the main invertebrate. Phyla with emphasis on evolutionary developments; locomotion, hydrostatics and the coelom, nutrition, respiration, excretion, osmotic and ionic regulation, patterns of reproduction; intimate associations and parasitism; a brief introduction to the arthropods; anatomy, evolution and bionomics of arthropod phyla, in particular uniramia.
HBIO 206 Plant Physiology
Ecophysiology of Photosynthesis (C3, C4, CAM) and respiration. Plant nutrition functions of macronutrients and micronutrients. Mechanisms and control of transport processes. Plant hormones and growth substances. Internal vs external stimuli. Plant environment interaction.
HBIO207 Biotechnology
Definition; Methods in biotechnology – traditional and modern; Ethical issues or Biopolitics, introduction to legislation, Applications – agriculture: viral elimination by meristeming, frost prevention, Bt genes, antisense technology, breeding for resistance/tolerance, state of art of certain crops in Zimbabwe; Food industries – strain improvement (for unique flavors, increased nutritional value), other recent examples; medical applications – drug production, gene therapy and other examples.
HBIO208 Anthropod Biology
The teaching objective of this course is to explore the evolutionary relationships of Arthropod groups and understand the adaptive diversity within the phylum and groups. Arthropodian characteristics; general characteristics; phylogenetic relationships. Structure and function of arthropod systems: exoskeleton, circulatory, digestive, nervous, respiratory, reproduction and development. Triloobites, chelicera, Crustacea, Myriapoda, Insecta: structural and functional modifications of the various systems in these groups; examples drawn from economically important classes/orders. Milestones in the history of insect classification. The practical part of this course is to: apply the knowledge of morphology to identify arthropods to their correct phyla, classes and orders, explore the adaptive radiation in structure and function of the different systems in the arthropod groups.
HBIO 209 Vertebrate Biology
An introduction to the phylum Chordata, its relationships and evolution. Major vertebrate systems are examined from an evolutionary viewpoint the skeleton, integument, respiratory and circulatory systems. The classification and evolution of vertebrates, palaeontology and continental drift in relation to vertebrate evolution.
HBIO 210 Applied Ecology
Population ecology, including: exponential and logistic models of population growth; life-tables and Leslie – type matrices; life history strategies; inter-and intra-specific competition; predator-prey interactions. Community ecology, including: patterns in multispecies communities; stability and complexity; linear and non- linear succession models; phenology. Biomes of the world, concentrating on tropical rain forests, savanna ecosystems, grasslands and arid lands. Biomass and productivity; utilisation by man.
HBIO211 Animal Physiology
Introduction to animal physiology homeostatics. Respiration in water and air, in fish, birds, mammals and insects; gas transport and properties of blood; Circulatory patterns; Locomotion in water and buoyancy; digestion, especially in herbivores; Information and control, including excitable cells; nervous system and control of effectors; Hormonal control.
HBIO212 Nutritional Biology
Cellular metabolic processes – metabolism of proteins, lipids and carbohydrates; Concepts and principles of nutrition; role of oxygen; various nutrients and their participation in the body; Human nutritional requirements (consider special cases like injury, pregnancy and illness); vegetarianism; Role of exercising and balanced nutrient intake.
HBIO 213 Molecular Genetics
The chemical basis of heredity. The genetic material: DNA, RNA and their structure. Organisation of DNA into chromosomes. Gene expression, The Central Dogma, genetic code, Transcription, translation. Gene structure and function.
CT211 Quality Management Systems
Refer to Department of Chemical Technology.
GS201 Gender Studies
Refer to Department of Gender Studies.
HBIO401 Biomathematics II
Statistical methods for biologists descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, X2 tests, Linear regression and correlation, Analysis of Variance, Nonparametric methods. Experimental design.
HBIO402 Dissertation
The module provides students with an opportunity to design, undertake or conduct an independent piece of research or study related to his/her programme of study under the guidance of a supervisor who is normally a member of the academic stuff of the department. The module helps the student to develop skills required to critically investigate a topic or problem, to gather and analyse information, and present and discuss the results.
ELECTIVES:
HBIO 403 Animal Parasitology
Intimate associations; protoctistan parasites; life cycle strategies; categories of nematode parasitism; cestodes; digeneans; monogeneans and acanthocephalans; parasitic arthropods; host specificity; host response and defence; parasite evasion of immunity; adaptations to parasitism; parasite control; specimen collection and analysis.
HBIO 404 Plant Nematology
The course gives students theoretical and field practical aspects of general nematology with more emphasis on plant nematology. The course covers general morphology, anatomy (digestive, reproductive, excretory and nervous systems) and biology of plant parasitic nematodes. The course also covers reproduction processs; sex determination; embryology; classification and systematics, parasitism and host parasite relationships for both plants and animals, nematodes as vectors of plant viruses; nematode interactions with fungi and bacteria; nematodes in ecosystems; mechanisms of resistance; population dynamics and nematode management strategies.
HBIO 405 Applied Entomology
The course covers material such as introduction to the causes of pest outbreak, approaches to control, introduction to methods in chemical control, biological control and biologically based control and some detailed work on control of tsetse flies, maize pest and cotton pests. Practical work is oriented towards aspects identification of insects, and control such as spray droplet spectra. Searching behaviour of insects, population growth and types of insect traps and the catches that may be expected.
HBIO 406 Industrial Microbiology
Review of microbial nutrition and growth in both batch and continuous culture. Fermentation equipment, design and operation. Development of industrial fermentations including screening of microorganisms; design of fermentation media; scale up of fermentation starting with laboratory scale; recovery and extraction of fermentation products (introduction to bioprocess engineering); study of specific examples of industrial fermentations including among others antibiotic production, brewing, single cell protein production, production of some fermented dairy products and enzyme production.
HBIO 407 Environmental Microbiology
Application of general ecological concepts to the microbial situation. Limiting factors, population dynamics, energy flow, community structure. The microbial role in nature. A survey of microbial habitats. Biodeterioration, wood decay and food spoilage. Waste disposal- sewage treatment, compositing. Associations of microbes with animals including brief consideration of epidemiology of human disease. Microbes in fresh water. Pollution. Bioremediation.
HBIO 408 Plant Pathology
The diversity of pathogen-induced plant diseases. Abiotic plant diseases. A survey of important fungal, bacterial, viral and mycoplasmial plant diseases using selected examples. Seed-borne diseases, epidemiology of plant diseases the concept of inoculum potential, source of inoculum production, liberation, dissemination and deposition of pathogen inoculum. Host-pathogen interaction- the physiology and biochemistry of pathogen penetration, colonisation pathogenesis and diseases resistance. Assessment and forecasting of plant disease outbreaks. The principles of plant disease control: chemical control, cultural control, biological control, breeding for resistance, control by legislation-quarantine, phytosanitatory regulations and seed health testing.
HBIO 409 Microbial Genetics and Virology
Mutations and genetics of mutations, recombinant systems in fungi, prokaryotes and viruses- including conjugation, transduction and transformation. Introduction to genetic engineering in microosragnisms. DNA and RNA bacteriophages, detailed descriptions of the main genera and groups of animal and plant viruses, virus genetics and variability. Virus detection and serology.
HBIO 410 Applied Aquatic Ecology
An introduction to limnology; the hydrological cycle and the nature of aquatic environments; physical and chemical properties of water and physical and chemical processes in streams and lakes. The nature and functioning of aquatic communities including benthos, plankton, epiphytes, macrophytes and fish. The effect of man on aquatic ecosystems; pollution, eutrophication, introduced and invasive species, drainage and siltation, fishing and exploitation of natural resources.
HBIO 411 Applied Terrestrial Ecology
Overview of definitions, objectives and principles of adaptive management of wildlife; the influence of large size on large mammal ecology; foraging theory; techniques used to quantify feeding and activity patterns; determinants of large mammal community structure and the distribution of large mammal biomass density; carrying capacity and culling; census methods; wildlife utilization.
BIO 412 Rangeland Ecology
Characteristics of tropical rangelands (savannas); features and determinants of ecosystem structure and functioning; geology, landforms and soils; moisture availability, nutrient availability, herbivory, fire, disturbance. Management of rangelands: objectives, assumptions, options, constraints; manipulation of grazing and fire regimes. Dynamics of rangeland ecosystems: equilibrium vs non-equilibrium views.
HBIO413 Systematic Botany
Angiosperm plant keying theory and practice: Plant classification and nomenclature. Species concepts. Modern computer methods in plant taxonomy: Phenetics versus cladistics. Plant families of ecological and economic importance in the flora Zambesiaca. Seeds, fruits and their dispersal. Adaptations of plants to pollinating agents. The weed flora of Zimbabwe.
HBIO 414 Applied Botany
General classification of plants of economic importance. Useful structures of plants. Origins of major modern crops. Cereals and grain legumes. Fruits and vegetable. Plant extracts. Fibres, timber and wood products. New crops and alternative valuations of plant resources.
HBIO 415 Advanced Plant Physiology
The chloroplast structure, function and bioenergetics. Photosynthesis. Light absorption, leaves and fluxes. Plant hormone physiology. Plant atmosphere relationships. Nitrogen and carbon metabolism. Physiology of flowering.
HBIO 416 Comparative Animal Physiology
Function of cell membranes and transporting epithelia; comparative aspects of osmotic and ionic regulation in marine, estuarine, freshwater and hypersaline animals. Water balance in land animals; interactions between thermoregulation and water balance. Comparative nitrogenous excretion. Renal and extra-renal homeostasis in vertebrates; excretory organs in invertebrates. Aestivation and crytobiosis. Endocrine aspects of osmoregulation.
HBIO 417 Experimental Zoology
Resting metabolism scaling with body size phylogenetic ecological correlates. Activity metabolism aerobic and anaerobic pathways of energy liberation, sustainable and non-sustainable activity levels of ectotherms and endotherms; foraging mode and metabolism. The cost of locomotion; basic muscle physiology. Skeletal, smooth and cardiac muscle, fast and slow fibres in vertebrates. Invertebrate muscle; control of invertebrate muscle. Physiology of diving and adaptation to high altitude.
HBIO 418 Ecological Animal Physiology
Physiological effects of temperature. Heat balance and mechanisms of heat exchange; lethal temperature and tolerance adaptations. Acclimatization and evolutionary adaptation to temperature. Thermoregualtion in endotherms; thermoreception and control of body temperature. Thermoregulation in ectotherms; behaviour and physiological mechanisms. Energy budget equations and measurements of components; feeding and digestion as strategies. Energy use in production- growth, storage and reproduction. Allocation to growth or survival vs reproduction- reproductive strategies. Energetics of ectotherms and endotherms and ecological correlates; Evolution of endotherm- hot blooded dinosaurs.
HBIO 419 Vertebrate Zoology
Vertebrate faunas of Africa in general and Zimbabwe in particular: composition, distribution, ecology and conservation. Special attention will be given to groups that illustrate evolutionary principles. Primate evolution; especially the evolution of man.
HBIO 420 Genetic Control Mechanisms
Control of gene expression in prokaryotes-enzyme repression and induction; the lactose operon of E. coli; attenuation in the trypophan operon. Lysis and lysogen in bacteriophage Lambda; control of pathways. Mating behaviour in yeast; how certain strains change mating type. Control of gene expression in higher eukaryotes, the dynamic nature of the eukaryotic genome-gene amplification, gene rearrangement and mobile units. Regulation at the transcriptional level promoters, enhancers and transcriptional factors. Post-transcriptional regulation processing transcripts, differential mRNA processing, control of mRNA stability. Changes in chromatin structure and gene regulation.
HBIO 421 Quantitative and Population Genetics
Quantitative Genetics
Types of quantitative traits, the normal distribution and basic statistical notions, artificial selection, prediction equation, genetic basis of quantitative traits, number of genes affecting quantitative traits, intensity of selection, heredity, resemblance between relatives, long term artificial selection inbreeding depression, correlated responses and selection limits.
Population Genetics
Darwin’s revolution, phenotypic diversity and genetic variation. Allozyme polymorphisms, DNA restriction fragment length polymorphisms. Organisation of genetic variation models: random mating, the Hardy Weinberg principle, special cases of random mating, assortative mating, inbreeding and its effect; causes of evolution- random genetic drift, mutation, migration selection balance, the neutral theory, synthesis of forces and origin of species.
HBIO 422 Applied Genetics
Mendelian genetics, examples and limitations. Theory of quantitative genetics: binomial expansion and phenotype distributions, states of dominance, components of phenotypic and genetic variance, heretability; natural and artificial selection: selection differential and intensity of selection; realised heritability; criteria for selection, individual, family, within family and index selection; effects of selection, inbreeding, cross breeding, heterosis and hybridisation. Case histories: poultry, maize and wheat. Other applications: human diseases, genetic counselling and eugenics, genetic methods of pest control.
HBIO 423 Advanced Molecular Genetics
Gene technology, chromosomes, genes, genomes and their organisation, size and complicity. Genetic expression, review of replication, transcription, translation and how they relate to chromosome structure. Plasmids, cosmids, F- plasmids insertion sequences, transposable genetic elements vectors. Recombination type, recombination in bacteria, bacterial transformation, conjugation and transduction, phage genetics, gene cloning vectors, DNA libraries, probes, DNA-DNA hybridisation, southern blots, release of engineered organisms, reverse transcription, retrovirology structural organisation.