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Genetics, Health, and Society (POPH20001)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable (login required)(opens in new window)
Contact information
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
The Human Genome Project has defined the blueprint of human life. This has enabled not only greater clarity and understanding of the science of genetics but also an awakening of the personal meaning of heredity, with ethical, spiritual, and cultural dimensions.
Because each human being has a unique genome which can potentially be identified, it is not hard to imagine the delicate web of dilemmas that will arise from consideration of the human genome as a utility. For example, predictive testing for a late onset condition entails a complex set of problems; including a person’s right to know or not to know facts that cannot be ‘unknown’; ownership of the genes (are they owned by the individual or the family, an organisation or a country?); and difficult insurance and privacy concerns.
Genomics is not contained within the boundaries of science, but crosses into many other disciplines and fields, including medicine, psychology, sociology, ethics, law, religion, spirituality, and society. This subject will provide students with a greater understanding of genomics and its ramifications, enabling collaboration and debate across many different disciplines and facets of society.
The subject will comprise nine themes, each addressing a different area affected by recent genomic developments.
The themes are:
(1) Setting the scene: A hypothetical introducing the subject, and an overview of the milestones in human genetics.
(2) Nature and nurture. What is the human genome, what does it contribute to who we are and how?
(3) Reading the future. What can genes tell us about ourselves and our potential children, and what do we really want to know? Clinical and non-clinical uses of genetic testing. What are the ethical and psychosocial considerations of genetic testing?
(4) Genetics and race. How does genetics interface with the concept of race?
(5) Visible and invisible differences. Exploring the psychological ramifications for people with genetic disorders that cause differences in physical appearance.
(6) Genetics and art. Exploring the influence and inspiration of genomics on various media.
(7) Genetics and the law. Legal implications of genomics will be addressed including: genetics in solving crimes and paternity; ownership of DNA including patenting of genes; sharing of genetic information within families, issues of confidentiality and privacy, genetic testing of children; genetic discrimination in insurance and employment.
(8) Genes and kinships. What connects families? How do we understand donor-assisted conception, paternity “fraud,” and complex “blended” families?
(9) Ethics of reproductive choice. Ethical considerations of reproductive choices set against the background of the history of eugenics and the current emphasis on free and informed choice, including termination of pregnancy following genetic testing.
Lecturers and tutors from different disciplines and faculties will be involved in teaching relevant themes.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of the subject, students should:
- Understand the science of human genomics and its role in forming who we are.
- Have increased insight into the personal, familial, social, ethical, and legal ramifications of developments in human genomics.
- Appreciate the ethical, legal, and societal dilemmas inherent in gene-related decisions, and be able to consider all of the relevant arguments.
Generic skills
On completion of the subject, students should have developed the following skills:
· Ability to integrate material from diverse disciplines and to discuss the effect of recent developments on different disciplines.
· Ability to assess critically information from a range of sources including its quality and relevance to the question under consideration.
· Ability to present a broad-based and reasoned discussion on a related topic.
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Previous or concurrent enrolment in BIOL10003 Genes and Environment, BIOL10005 Genetics and the Evolution of Life, or GENE10004 Genetics in the Media, is highly recommended. Support can be provided to individual students who have not studied genetics recently or VCE level Biology.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Three online multiple choice quizzes; first quiz worth 5%, second and third worth 10% each. Quizzes evenly spread throughout the semester | Throughout the teaching period | 25% |
A wiki and class presentation (small group work) on an allocated topic
| Late in the teaching period | 15% |
Final written examination
| During the examination period | 60% |
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Ingrid Winship Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 36 hours: 12 weeks of two 1-hour lectures per week (24hrs) plus one 1-hour small group discussion or workshop per week (12hrs). Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 26 February 2024 to 26 May 2024 Last self-enrol date 8 March 2024 Census date 3 April 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 3 May 2024 Assessment period ends 21 June 2024
Time commitment details
170 hours
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Reading and reference material will be provided by lecturers or tutors at the commencement of each theme.
- Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Biomedicine
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Environments
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Science
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 11 April 2024