BSc (Hons) Genetics Bachelor's degree at the University of Leeds

You'll be introduced to the diversity of microbial life and viruses on our planet and how we interact with microbes that are responsible for infections. You'll explore how microorganisms interact with each other, how they influence the lives of more complex organisms and learn how fungi, bacteria and viruses are observed and manipulated safely.

You'll be provided with an overview of the evolution and diversity of life, the key features that define each group and the role those take in ecological processes. Each group of organisms will be linked to a major global challenge, including food security, disease and wildlife conservation, to demonstrate how fundamental science informs important societal issues.

You'll learn about the fundamental processes of life, identifying the key concepts that underpin the biological processes in all living organisms, from bacteria to elephants. On completion, you'll have a comprehensive grounding in the molecular basis of life from the atomic scale up to cells.

You'll develop a broad range of standard laboratory skills, including routine calculations, analytical methods to quantify biochemical processes and techniques to study biomolecular and genetic interactions in vivo and in vitro. Practicals will address processes at the molecular, cellular, whole organism and population level within the broader remit of biology and genetics.

You'll gain an in-depth understanding of the scientific process, the formulation and testing of hypotheses, making best use of scientific literature. Hands-on computer practical sessions will help you develop an appreciation of scientific data and the key skills needed to solve problems.

You'll explore the different meanings of 'genetics' and how this concept has changed over time. More importantly, you will explore what genetics means for us as organisms. To what extent do genes determine our inheritance? How do our genes make us the distinct and unique organisms we are?

You'll review fundamental immune mechanisms with a particular emphasis on human immunology and its relationship to health and disease. You'll discover how we protect ourselves from infection through our immune defences and learn about the role of different types of leukocytes and antibodies.

You'll be introduced to the foundational neuroscience concepts of structure and function, and how systems-level function emerges. These concepts will be explained using examples drawn from across the human nervous system in health and disease, and from the experimental approaches used in neuroscience research.

You'll be introduced to the foundational concepts underpinning pharmacology: pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, clinical pharmacology, and drug discovery and development. Learning concepts will be covered using cutting-edge examples drawn from different pharmacotherapeutic approaches, disease states and pathophysiology.

This module explores how knowledge derived from biological research is applied to and exploited in agriculture. It considers food production from animals, plants and microorganisms, the different systems of production, the use of biotechnology for crop improvement and the opportunities and challenges facing a changing world.

You'll be introduced to omics-based approaches at the forefront of equipping biologists to overcome global challenges. You'll develop practical data-science skills in comparative genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics to conduct group-based and individual research projects.

You'll be trained in data collection, experimental techniques, and problem-solving in the context of molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry and microbiology. You'll cover practical experiments in gene cloning, protein expression, PCR, electrophoresis, and enzyme assays, as well as tutorials on data handling and critical reviews of current topics in molecular biology.

This module further develops the core research and scientific skills you will have developed in year 1 and helps you prepare for third-year research projects and beyond.

In this module, you'll learn about human populations and their relationships with the environment. Human evolution will be explored, including the underlying principles that lead to genetic differences between individuals and populations. Epidemiological aspects cover the analysis of infectious diseases and cancer. In addition, genetic diseases are investigated in the context of genome organisation, mutation and gene expression, including clinical approaches to diagnosis of cytogenetic abnormali

You'll gain detailed knowledge of the immune system, focusing on human health, from infectious and autoimmune diseases to treatment.

You'll be introduced to techniques used for the study of viruses, the structure of viruses and the processes of their replication and evolution. You'll also learn about how virus biology can be exploited for gene expression and gene therapy.

This module provides an introduction to human cell biology and the molecular basis of cancer. You'll begin by studying the key structures and processes within a normal cell, exploring how components work together to maintain cellular function. The module then examines how these processes can become disrupted, leading to the development of cancer. Finally, you'll learn about therapeutic strategies for combating cancer, including the development and action of targeted treatments.

You will gain a detailed understanding of important human viral and bacterial pathogens and methods of combating these infections.

You'll examine evolutionary processes to develop an understanding of adaptation to environments, across evolutionary time and in our rapidly changing modern world. The module takes animal behaviour, taught in a behavioural ecology framework, as a specific field in which evolution and adaptation can be explored.

Explore the importance of plants in ecosystems by studying their physiology, metabolism and key growth concepts. Topics include embryogenesis, meristems, flower and seed development, and adaptations like gravitropism and phototropism. The modules also cover light perception, model systems, and research methodologies for understanding plant development.