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‘Genomics, Health and Society’ module introduces basic concepts of genetics, genomics, and epigenomics; the application in healthcare for detection, management, and prevention of disease; and the implications of using genetic technologies and information on society.

By the end of the module, you should be able to:

• Describe the relevant terminology in genetics
• Understand techniques in epidemiology and statistics that apply to genetic epidemiology
• Describe genomic variation and its role in health and disease
• Explain the pattern of inheritance of rare and common diseases
• Explain the role of epigenetics in cancer development and control
• Describe methods of genetic editing used for research and treatment
• Assess the utility of predictive genetic testing in risk stratification for cancer prevention and screening
• Explain the application of pathogen genomics in preventing, predicting and treating infectious diseases
• Explain what is ‘big data’ and how it could be used to improve health
• Discuss direct-to-consumer genetic testing and its societal implications
• Discuss different approaches for counselling and genetic risk communication
• Discuss the ethical, social, and legal considerations in using genomic information in healthcare

This is an optional advanced module open to Year 3 students on the BSc Population Health module. Those wishing to select this module must have successfully completed IEHC0028 Research Methods in Population Health or any similar introductory or intermediate research methods module. There is availability for Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê elective students from other departments. However, spaces are limited and are allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis on Portico.

Module Leads are and Celine Lewis.

Selected Reading List:

• Molecular Biology of the Cell. Bruce Alberts, Alexander Johnson, Julian Lewis and Martin Raff. Garland Science, 2008 (Chapter 4. DNA and Chromosomes; Chapter 5. DNA Replication, Repair, and Recombination; Chapter 6. How Cells Read the Genome: From DNA to Protein; Chapter 7. Control of Gene Expression)
• Health Education England’s basic course in genomics
• Genetics, Healthcare and Public Policy – An introduction to public health genomics. Alison Stewart, Philippa Brice, Hilary Burton, Paul Pharoah, Simon Sanderson, Ron Zimmern. Cambridge University Press, 2007Stratified screening for cancer – Recommendations and analysis from the COGS project. PHG Foundation. 2014
• Genomics and Personalized Medicine: What Everyone Needs to Know? Michael Snyder. Oxford University Press. 2016
• Medical and Health Genomics. Dhavendra Kumar, Stylianos Antonarakis. Academic Press, 2016.