Mar 29, 2024  
2018-2019 Academic Catalog 
    
2018-2019 Academic Catalog [Published Catalog]

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GHHE 000/5540 - Genetics and Molecular Basis of Disease (3 cr.)



Description
This course lays down the foundation in basic genetic concepts with the objective of understanding the hereditability and/or molecular basis of disease. Recent evidence and diagnostic procedures suggest that genetic diseases make up a large proportion of the total disease burden in both pediatric and adult populations. Today′s health care practitioner and biomedical scientist must understand the science of medical genetics and the consequences of altered genomics and proteomics. Advances in the development of new and more accurate methods of diagnosing hereditary disease have led to a greater “genetic awareness” and recognition that genetics plays a role in all areas of medicine. Using a wide spectrum of examples, it will illustrate the impact of mutations as found in thalassemias, sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, familial Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Huntington’s Disease as causes of disease. It will also discuss genetics as a predisposing factor, such as in the case of birth defects, breast cancer, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Diseases, alcoholism and some autoimmune disorders. Environmentally-induced mutagenesis and carcinogenesis and the role of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes will be a particular focus of the second half of the course.



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