This is a massive open online course on the fundamentals of human genetics for the students of undergraduate level. This online program is focused on delivering insights on various diseases related to human genetics and the aspects of genotype and phenotype. This online certification course is provided by the Swayam portal in collaboration with the Consortium for Educational Communication (CEC). The classes are held online for a period of six weeks and the students of this elective course will gain experiential learning.
The course instructor for this program is Prof. Md. Niamat Ali from the Environmental Science department, P. G. Centre of Microbiology at Centre of Research for Development (CORD) in the University of Kashmir. The students of this course are provided with course modules and other online resources to develop a detailed understanding of the concepts.
The ‘Basic Human Genetics’ online certification program ensures students with knowledge acquisition along with the E-Certificate and credit points for this program under the Biological Sciences & Bioengineering domain.
The students of this ‘Basic Human Genetics’ certification by Swayam will become eligible for the course certificate after completing the course with a score of 30% in the internal assessments and 70% in the final examination.
What you will learn
Knowledge of geneticsKnowledge of BiologyKnowledge of ecosystemKnowledge of MicrobiologyKnowledge of biomedical sciences
The ‘Basic Human Genetics’ certification syllabus is developed for the students to learn about the different aspects of human genetics and their applications. The students of this course will gain knowledge about the significance of genes in human biology to comprehend the evolution of genomics and human genetics that enable the understanding of genetic diseases. This helps the candidates in enhancing their knowledge of the prevention and cure of those diseases. The aim of this program is to provide an understanding of the historical views of human genetics, the human genome project, and the various tools and strategies involved in this field.
The ‘Basic Human Genetics’ online certification program is designed to enhance the knowledge of the students and graduates pursuing the field of biological sciences and bioengineering.
Admission Details
The candidates of the ‘Basic Human Genetics’ online course are required to register online through the course website.
The students of the ‘Basic Human Genetics’ certification course are required to apply for the course by entering the course account details on the registration form or can sign in using the Google, Facebook, or Microsoft account IDs.
The Syllabus
History of Human Genetics: Pedigree Analysis (Pedigree symbols and construction of pedigrees, inheritance pattern and risk assessment, Presentation of molecular genetic data in pedigrees)
Patterns of Inheritance for Monogenic Traits: Autosomal inheritance-dominant, recessive, sex-linked inheritance, sex-limited, and sex- influenced traits, and mitochondrial inheritance
Deviations from the basic pedigree patterns, nonpenetrance, variable expressivity, pleiotropy, late-onset, dominance problems, anticipation, genetic heterogeneity, and uniparental disomy. X-inactivation and dosage compensation
Mosaicism and chimerism, consanguinity and its effects, epigenetic modifications, and imprinting
Human Genome Project: History, organization, and goals of the human genome project.
Tools (Vectors- BAC, PAC, YAC, and sequencing techniques) and approaches (Hierarchical and shotgun sequencing), outcomes ethical issues, and applications in human diseases.
Organization of the Human Genome: General features: Gene density, CpG islands, RNA-encoding genes
Gene clusters, diversity in size and organization of genes, types of repetitive DNA, pseudogenes, gene families
Endoreplication and amplification, genetic markers, and their applications
Human Cytogenetics Technique: Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)
Human karyotype:
Banding pattern and nomenclature (G and Q banding)
Common syndromes due to numerical chromosome changes
Common syndromes due to structural alterations(translocations, duplications, deletions, microdeletion, fragile sites, common chromosome abnormalities in cancer
Techniques for Genomics: DNA sequencing (Maxam-Gilbert and Sanger Method, introduction to NGS), DNA fingerprinting
Polymorphism screening (genotyping of SNPs )
Microsatellite markers, expression, and proteome analysis.
Population Genetics: Genotypic and allelic frequencies, linkage disequilibrium, haplotype construction (two loci using SNPs and/or microsatellites).
Mapping Strategies: Physical maps (different types- restriction, cytogenetic maps, use of FISH in physical mapping, radiation hybrids and clone libraries in STS mapping) and genetic maps
Identification of Genetic Basis of Disease
Principles and strategies, positional and candidate gene approaches, positional- cloning approach (examples- HD, CFTR), the concept of twin and adoption studies
Prenatal Diagnosis: Brief introduction, methods of prenatal diagnosis
Clinical Genetics: Inborn errors of metabolism and their genetic basis (example- phenylketonuria), genetic disorders of hemopoietic systems (examples- sickle cell anemia and thalassemia)
Genetic basis of color blindness
Biosafety of human genetics:
Biosafety for Human Health and Environment.
Biosafety issues for using cloned genes in Medicine, Agriculture, Industry, and Ecoprotection.
Gene Pollution, Biological Invasion, Risk and Safety Assessment from Genetically Engineered Organisms
Special Procedures for r-DNA based products
Biological Warfare, Biological Containment (BC) and Physical Containment (PC)
CDC Biosafety levels, Biosafety in Clinical Laboratories and Biohazard Management.
Bioethics of human genetics:
Ethical Issues of the Human Genome Project
Code of Ethics in Medical/clinical laboratories
Ethical Issues of Xenotransplantation.
Ethics involved in Embryonic and Adult Stem Cell Research
Ethics in Assisted Reproductive
Technologies: animal and human cloning and Invitro fertilization, the element of Informed Consent
Evaluation process
The students of this online training should attend the end-term proctored exam and score 70% to get the ‘Basic Human Genetics’ certificate.
Instructors
Kashmir University Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
1: What is the duration of the ‘Basic Human Genetics’ online course?
The course is conducted for six weeks.
2: Which online platform offers the ‘Basic Human Genetics’ certification course?
The course is provided by the Swayam portal along with CEC.
3: What prior knowledge is required to join the ‘Basic Human Genetics’ classes?
There is no prior knowledge needed to join this course.
4: How many credit points will I get for the ‘Basic Human Genetics’ online certification program?
You will get two credit points for this course.
5: How much should I get in the internal assessment for the certificate in the ‘Basic Human Genetics’ training?
You will have to get 30% in the internal assessments.