Module Information
Module Identifier
BR31810
Module Title
Conservation Genetics
Academic Year
2015/2016
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1
Other Staff
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 22 x 1 Hour Lectures |
| Practical | 3 x 4 Hour Practicals |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Practical report 1. | 12% |
| Semester Assessment | Practical report 2. | 14% |
| Semester Assessment | Practical report 3. | 14% |
| Semester Exam | 2 Hours Answer 3 out of 6 essay questions. | 60% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Students must take elements of assessment equivalent to those that led to failure of the module. | 40% |
| Supplementary Exam | 2 Hours Students must take elements of assessment equivalent to those that led to failure of the module. | 60% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1) demonstrate a clear appreciation of the principles of population genetics
2) explain the application of population genetics, phylogeography and phylogenetic methods to conservation
3) evaluate the relevance of transgenic technology to agriculture and conservation
4) manipulate and interpret molecular data, and problem solve in relation to conservation genetics
Brief description
The aim of this module is demonstrate the relevance of population genetics to conservation through a series of integrated lectures, workshops and practicals, built around case studies in conservation.
Content
Case studies in conservation of natural, reintroduced and captive populations are used to address the following issues:
- Inbreeding and the consequences of nonrandom mating for conservation of natural populations.
- Genetic management of wild and captive populations.
- Hybridisation
- Invasive species.
- Phylogeographic/phylogenetic approaches to conservation and management
- Taxonomic units and their management
- In situ vs. ex situ conservation
- Transgenic technology and its application to conservation
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | Collection and scrutiny of data in terms of quality and quantity. They will be expected to analyse data using population statistics and interpret their results in a conservation context. |
| Communication | Students will participate in discussions and produce short presentations. They will also produce written reports for practicals. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Outside the formal contact hours, students will be expected to research materials, manage time and meet deadlines. The directed study elements will provide opportunity for students to explore their own learning styles and preferences and identify their needs and barriers to learning. Students will be able to review and monitor their progress and plan for improvement of personal performance. |
| Information Technology | The students will be required to access online databases such as ISI Web of Knowledge and Google Scholar to find primary literature. They are required to give a presentation using MS PowerPoint, calculate the F statistics using an Excel spreadsheet, and use the appropriate software to construct a phylogenetic tree. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Students will gain confidence in their laboratory and data analysis skills. The module features subjects and techniques that often inspire students to reflect upon their scientific interests and career aspirations. |
| Problem solving | Through lectures, workshops and practicals, students will apply population genetics methodologies to problems in conservation. |
| Research skills | Students will search for, read, discuss and criticise scientific research papers in the field of conservation genetics. Through laboratory and computer-based practical classes, students will apply population genetics methods to problems in conservation. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Subject specific concepts relating to population and conservation genetics will be developed. |
| Team work | Students will work in pairs/small groups during practical sessions. They will need to discuss their experimental design/investigations and work effectively as a small team in practical classes. The presentation exercise requires students to coordinate and integrate their research and to cooperate in the preparation of a group presentation. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6