Major Overview

Description

Genetics is the study of biologically inherited traits as diverse as those that cause human disease, allow a rare plant to live in a single, isolated location, or result in a desirable characteristic found in a domestic animal used in agriculture. Your studies in genetics involve the analysis of DNA and the many ways in which it is expressed. The knowledge acquired by studying the Genetics major is important for study in all biological sciences including agriculture, biochemistry, botany, conservation biology, ecology, medicine, microbiology, molecular biology and zoology. This major delivers a broad overview of the universal principles, potentials and problems associated with DNA-based life, and provides you with the essential skills of a geneticist.

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) appreciate that as genetics is the study of inheritance, it is a cornerstone of the biological sciences; (2) demonstrate knowledge of how traits are inherited and the molecular nature of these patterns, how genetic processes control development and disease and are affected by the environment and evolution, and how and why genomes are studied; (3) demonstrate oral and written communication skills; (4) practise technologies used in various fields of genetics; (5) demonstrate skills in critical thinking, experimental design, data analysis and interpretation,and teamwork; and (6) demonstrate competency in high-level critical thinking and communication skills suited to gaining employment and further studies in the field of genetics.

Broadening guidelines

All students studying towards a Bachelor's Degree at UWA are required to Broaden their studies by completing a minimum of four units (24 points) of study outside their degree specific major. Broadening is your opportunity to explore other areas of interest, investigate new disciplines and knowledge paradigms and to shape your degree to suit your own aspirations and interests. Many of you will be able to undertake more than this minimum amount of broadening study and we encourage you to do so if this suits your aspirations. Over the next few months you will find here some broadening suggestions related to your degree-specific major. While we know that many students value guidance of this sort, these are only suggestions and students should not lose sight of the opportunity to explore that is afforded by your Broadening Choices. Advice can also be sought from your Allocated Student Advising Office.

Prerequisites

Mathematics Methods ATAR or equivalent or higher or Mathematics Applications ATAR with a mathematics unit taken in the first year. Students without ATAR mathematics will take two first year mathematics unit.

Chemistry ATAR or equivalent or higher or an additional chemistry unit taken in the first year

Courses

Genetics can be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:

Example Study Plan

See study plans for more information.

Units

Key to availability of units:
S1
Semester 1
S2
Semester 2

Level 1

Degree-specific major units

Take the following unit:

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
ATAR Subject(s) Human Biology or equivalent
or ATAR Subject(s) Biology or equivalent
or Unit(s) ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human
or Unit(s) ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human
or Unit(s) BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology
or Unit(s) IMED1001 Form and Function
and Successful completion of
ATAR Subject(s) Chemistry or equivalent
or Unit(s) CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
Incompatibility
Unit(s) SCIE2225 Molecular Biology
Degree-specific major units

Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points from this group:

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1, S2 SCIE1104 Science, Society and Data Analysis
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
ATAR Subject(s) Mathematics Applications or equivalent
or Mathematics Methods or equivalent
or Unit(s) MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
Co-requisites
Enrolment in
Unit(s) MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods
Or SCIE1500 Analytical Methods for Scientists
Successful completion of
Unit(s) MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods
Or SCIE1500 Analytical Methods for Scientists
Incompatibility
Successful completion of
Unit(s) STAT1520 Economic and Business Statistics
S1, S2 STAT1400 Statistics for Science
Prerequisites
Mathematics Applications ATAR
or MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals or equivalent
Incompatibility
STAT1520 Economic and Business Statistics
Degree-specific major units

Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points from this group:

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 BIOC1001 Introductory Cellular Biochemistry
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
ATAR Subject(s) Chemistry ATAR
or Unit(s) CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
Incompatibility
Successful completion of
CHEM1004 Biological Chemistry
S1, S2 CHEM1001 Chemistry—Properties and Energetics
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
Unit(s) CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry (ID 1063)
or ATAR Subject(s) Chemistry
or ATAR Subject(s) WACE Chemistry 3A/3B or equivalent
Degree-specific major units

Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points from this group:

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human None
S1 BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology None
Bridging units

Bridging units must be successfully completed within the first 48 points of study.
Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in Mathematics Methods ATAR or equivalent or higher are required to complete MATH1721.
Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in Mathematics Applications ATAR or equivalent or higher are required to complete MATH1720 and MATH1721.
Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in Chemistry ATAR or equivalent or higher are required to complete CHEM1003.

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1, S2 CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
Incompatibility
ATAR Subject(s) Chemistry or equivalent
S1, S2 MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
Prerequisites
Mathematics Applications ATAR [with a scaled score of less than 50] or with permission
Incompatibility
Mathematics Applications ATAR [with a scaled score of 50 or greater] or Equivalent or higher
S1, S2 MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods
Prerequisites
Mathematics Applications ATAR
or MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
or
Mathematics Methods ATAR [with a scaled score of less than 50] or equivalent
Incompatibility
MATH1011 Multivariable Calculus
and MATH1012 Mathematical Theory and Methods
and STAT1520 Economics and Business Statistics

Level 2

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (12 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 GENE2230 Molecular Genetics I
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or IMED1003 Cell Survival and Communication
S1 GENE2250 Principles of Inheritance
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology
or Unit(s) BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
or Unit(s) ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human
or Unit(s) ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human
or Unit(s) SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
Incompatibility
Unit(s) GENE2204 Principles of Genetics

Level 3

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (18 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 GENE3340 Molecular Genetics II
Prerequisites
GENE2230 Molecular Genetics I (ID 551)
Incompatibility
GENE3330 Molecular Genetics and Genomics
S2 GENE3350 Evolution and Development
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) GENE2230 Molecular Genetics I
S1 GENE3370 Genomics
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) GENE2230 Molecular Genetics I
Degree-specific major units

Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points from this group:

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 BIOL3364 Evolutionary Processes
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods
or level 1 Unit(s) SCIE1500 Analytical Methods for Scientists
and level 1 Unit(s) BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology
or level 2 Unit(s) GENE2250 Principles of Inheritance
and level 1 Unit(s) SCIE1104 Science, Society and Data Analysis
or level 1 Unit(s) STAT1400 Statistics for Science
Incompatibility
ANIM3362 Evolutionary Processes
S1 PATH3305 Medical Genetics
Prerequisites
completion of Level 2 of a major in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Biomedical Science
or Genetics.
for pre-2012 courses: GENE2230 Molecular Genetics I
and GENE2250 Principles of Inheritance
Incompatibility
GENE3320 Medical Genetics