Genome function

This unit will examine genomes and their functional elements with a focus on how mutational changes in the genetic sequence can lead to new phenotypes and functions. In addition to developing a strong theoretical background on genome elements, you will gain hands-on experience with molecular biology techniques, including DNA extraction, sequencing and bioinformatic analysis, used to link mutations with phenotypic changes and acquisition of new functions. The application of these methods will be demonstrated using a range of case studies and industry-related examples illustrating DNA and mutations, evolution, antibiotic resistance, microbiomes, infectious disease, recombination, gene regulation, the non-coding genome, untranslated regions, splicing, transcript processing, and translation.