Genetics major

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) apply relevant employability skills for 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

ATAR Mathematics Methods or equivalent or higher and ATAR Chemistry or equivalent or higher.

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

BP004 Bachelor of Science
BP006 Bachelor of Biomedical Science
BH005 Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)

Overview of unit sequence

Genetics is a degree-specific single major comprising:

  • six Level 1 units
  • two Level 2 units
  • five Level 3 units
Key to availability of units:
S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2

Level 1

Degree-specific major units
Take all units (12 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
Prerequisites:
(Human Biology: ATAR
or
equivalent;
or
Biology: ATAR
or
equivalent;
or
ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human;
or
ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human;
or
BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology;
or
IMED1001 Form and Function)
and
(Chemistry: ATAR
or
equivalent
or
CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry)
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
SCIE2225 Molecular Biology passed in
or
before 2004
S1, S2 STAT1400 Statistics for Science
Prerequisites:
Mathematics Applications ATAR
or
MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
or
equivalent
or
higher
Co-requisites:
Nil.
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
S1, S2 CHEM1001 Chemistry—Properties and Energetics
Prerequisites:
Chemistry ATAR
or
WACE Chemistry 3A/3B
or
TEE Chemistry
or
equivalent
or
CHEM1105 Introductory Chemistry
or
CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
CHEM1101 Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, CHEM1104 Biological Inorganic and Physical Chemistry
S2 CHEM1004 Biological Chemistry
Prerequisites:
ATAR Chemistry, WACE Chemistry 3A/3B
or
TEE Chemistry
or
CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
or
equivalent
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
Nil
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
Prerequisites:
Nil
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1 BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology
Prerequisites:
Nil
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
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
Prerequisites:
Nil.
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
ATAR Chemistry
or
equivalent
or
higher
S1, S2 MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
Prerequisites:
Mathematics Applications ATAR (with a scaled score of less than 50)
or
with permission.
Co-requisites:
Nil.
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 .
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
WACE Mathematics: Specialist 3A/3B; MATH1038 Calculus and its Applications; MATH1045 Intermediate Calculus; Mathematics Specialist ATAR; MATH1001 Mathematical Methods 1; MATH1002 Mathematical Methods 2; MATH1011 Multivariable Calculus; MATH1012 Mathematical Theory and Methods;
or
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:
Level 1 12 Points Biology 6 Points of which must be Either SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell (ID 1019)
Or
IMED1003 Cell Survival and Communication (ID 5967)
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1 GENE2250 Principles of Inheritance
Prerequisites:
BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology (formerly BIOL1130 Core Concepts in Biology)
or
BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
or
ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human
or
ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human
or
SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
GENE2204 Principles of Genetics, GENE2240 Introduction to 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)
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
GENE3330 Molecular Genetics and Genomics
S2 GENE3350 Evolution and Development
Prerequisites:
GENE2230 Molecular Genetics I
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
ANIM3302 Genetics and Evolution
S1 GENE3370 Genomics
Prerequisites:
GENE2230 Molecular Genetics I
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
GENE3330 Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Degree-specific major units
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points from this group:
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ANIM3362 Evolutionary Processes
Prerequisites:
6 Points Unit BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology (ID 1254) And Any Level 2 Units ANIM2xxx
Or
Level 2 Units BIOL2xxx
Or
Level 2 Units ENVT2xxx
Or
Level 2 Units GENE2xxx
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
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
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
GENE3320 Medical Genetics

Choosing your degree-specific major

General degrees

You must satisfy the requirements of a degree-specific major before you complete your course. The flexible structure of an undergraduate course allows you to try out a number of different subjects to see what interests you before nominating your degree-specific major. You have the choice to either nominate your degree-specific major when you first enrol in the course or delay nominating it until your second year.

To plan the first year of your study without nominating a degree-specific major, you are advised to choose units that will pave the way to two or more degree-specific majors that are of interest to you. For examples of the choice of units available in first year, search the first-year study plans .

To fully understand the structure of an undergraduate course, read the course structure information and the Undergraduate Degree Course Rules.

The following example illustrates how the Genetics degree-specific major can be included in the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Biomedical Science course.

With WACE Chemistry
Course Study Plan: CSP004-GENET-1
Without WACE Chemistry
Course Study Plan: CSP004-GENET-2

There are more choices open to you. For more examples, search the study plans .

Specialised degrees – Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science (Honours), Bachelor of Automation and Robotics, Bachelor of Environmental Design, Bachelor of Music

You must satisfy the requirements of the degree-specific major in your degree before you complete your course.

Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

This comprehensive degree does not require you to choose a degree-specific major.

Choosing a second major

You also have the option to choose a second major from those available in the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design Only available to re-enrolling students. and Bachelor of Science courses, giving you the opportunity to pursue your interests no matter how different they are.

The following example illustrates how the Genetics degree-specific major can be combined with a second major in the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Biomedical Science course.

With WACE Chemistry
Course Study Plan: CSP004-GENET-Generic-1
Without WACE Chemistry
Course Study Plan: CSP004-GENET-Generic-2
Example 3:
Course Study Plan: CSP006-GENET-Generic

For more examples of combinations of majors, search the study plans .