- 2017

Undergraduate

Minor / Major / Extended major

Commencement year

This area of study entry applies to students commencing this course in 2017 and should be read in conjunction with the relevant course entry in the Handbook.

Any units listed for this area of study relate only to the 'Requirements' outlined in the component of any bachelors double degrees.

Unit codes that are not linked to their entry in the Handbook are not available for study in the current year.

Managing faculty

Faculty of Science

Offered by

School of Biological Sciences

Coordinator(s)

Dr Richard Burke (Clayton)

Dr Lee Sui Mae (Malaysia)

Location

Clayton Malaysia

Genetics at Monash covers a broad scope of genetics and genomics topics, including conservation, developmental and medical genetics, to ensure that students are well prepared for the job market.

Our teaching labs have state-of-the-art equipment and facilities for practical, hands-on training. Our lecturers are all active researchers as well as teachers, ensuring each course taught at Monash reflects the most recent advances in the various genetics disciplines.

Genetics is the study of genes, their structure, function, transmission and evolution, and encompasses a rich and diverse range of research topics. Genetics lies at the centre of biology because the same basic genetic principles apply to microbes, plants, animals and humans. The genetic code provides the blueprint for life and every aspect of biology, from development, physiology and biochemistry through to behaviour and ecology, is ultimately controlled by the products of genes and their interaction with the physical environment.

Genetics underpins many exciting areas of science such as biomedical science, biotechnology, conservation biology, and forensics. Graduates with a major in genetics find employment in medical and agricultural research institutes, hospitals, government departments, schools and universities, patent firms, genetic counselling services, forensics laboratories, and biotechnology companies.

Availability

Genetics is listed in S2000 Bachelor of Science, S3001 Bachelor of Science Advanced - Global Challenges (Honours) and S3002 Bachelor of Science Advanced - Research (Honours) at Clayton as a major, extended major or minor and in the Bachelor of Science at Malaysia as a minor.

The genetics minor, major and extended major are not available in the double degree course S2007 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Biomedical Science.

Outcomes

In addition to achieving the broad outcomes of their course, students successfully completing this major will be able to:

  • demonstrate a thorough understanding of the broad principles of genetics and their application through suitable approaches and methodologies at the molecular, cellular, organismal and population levels
  • demonstrate advanced practical skills in contemporary experimental methods such as recombinant DNA techniques, gene expression analysis, genetic breeding experiments, analysis of transgenic organisms, genotyping methods, the use of modern laboratory equipment and the application of bioinformatic and genomic approaches
  • design laboratory or computer-based genetics experiments, incorporating the principles of effective experimental design and suitable methods for collecting, analysing and interpreting resultant data.

Units

Minor requirements (24 points)

12 points at level 1 and 12 points at level 2.

Students complete:

  1. The following unit (6 points):
  2. One unit (6 points) chosen from:
  3. Two units (12 points) from any GEN unit at level 2 or level 3 listed under the major or extended major.

Major requirements (48 points)

Note: The major is only available at Clayton.

12 points at level 1 and at least 18 points at level 3.

Students complete:

  1. The following unit (6 points):
  2. One unit (6 points) chosen from:
  3. The following three units (18 points):
    • GEN2041 Foundations of genetics
    • GEN2052 Genomics and population genetics
    • GEN3040 Genomics and its applications
  4. Three units (18 points) from:
    • MCB2011 Molecular biology and the cell
    • GEN3030 Molecular, cellular and developmental genetics
    • GEN3051 Medical and forensic genetics
    • GEN3062 Evolutionary and ecological genetics
    • GEN3990 Genetics in action research project*

    * This unit requires additional prerequisites.

Extended major requirements (72 points)

Note: The extended major is only available at Clayton.

12 points at level 1, 24 points at level 2 and 36 points at level 3.

Students complete the following twelve units (72 points):

  • BIO1011 Biology I
  • BIO1022 Biology II
  • MCB2011 Molecular biology and the cell
  • MCB2022 The dynamic cell
  • GEN2041 Foundations of genetics
  • GEN2052 Genomics and population genetics
  • GEN3040 Genomics and its applications
  • GEN3030 Molecular, cellular and developmental genetics
  • GEN3051 Medical and forensic genetics
  • GEN3062 Evolutionary and ecological genetics
  • GEN3990 Genetics in action research project or any level three BCH, MIC or DEV unit*
  • BIO3011 Research methods in biology

* BIO3011 and some MIC- and DEV-coded units require additional prerequisites.

Requirements for progressing to honours

Successful completion of 24 points of relevant level 3 units listed above, of which normally 18 points are genetics units.

Refer to S3701 Bachelor of Science (Honours) for full details.

Relevant courses

Bachelors

Single degrees

Successful completion of this area of study can be counted towards meeting the requirements for the following single degrees:*

  • S2000 Bachelor of Science
  • S3001 Bachelor of Science Advanced - Global Challenges (Honours)
  • S3002 Bachelor of Science Advanced - Research (Honours)

Students in other single bachelor's degrees may be eligible to complete the minor or major by using 24 or 48 points of their free electives.

Double degrees

Successful completion of this area of study can be counted towards meeting the requirements for the Bachelor of Science component in the following double degrees:*

  • B2023 Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Science
  • B2016 Bachelor of Commerce Specialist and Bachelor of Science
  • D3005 Bachelor of Education (Honours) and Bachelor of Science
  • E3007 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Science
  • C2003 Bachelor of Information Technology and Bachelor of Science
  • L3007 Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Science
  • S2006 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts
  • S2004 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Computer Science
  • S2003 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Global Studies
  • S2005 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Music

* Students cannot complete a minor, major or extended major in the same area of study.