Bachelor of Science (Genetics and Genomics)

University of Galway

Genetics is studying DNA, the blueprint for life. Your genome – all your DNA code – is more than 3 billion letters long! In genomics, you work out the genome code for any organism and use the DNA data to make important biological discoveries in areas such as medicine, agriculture, evolution and the environment. If you’re passionate about biology, and want to combine it with some mathematics and data science, this course might be for you. In 1st Year of the programme, you will receive a foundational scientific understanding of principles that govern the complex nature of living systems through studying biology, chemistry, mathematics and computer science. In parallel, you will be introduced to key concepts that underpin genetics and genomics, as well as developing scientific research skills. In 2nd Year you will learn about the biology of living cells and organisms, including their evolutionary origin. You will be introduced to the techniques that allow us to study humans, animals, plants and microbes at a genetic level. This extends to understanding how genetics underpins and drives innovation in areas such as medicine, agriculture and the environment. In 3rd Year you will learn about molecular genetic processes that control cell cycle, DNA replication and gene expression with practical training in molecular biology techniques. You will learn about the application of genomic tools to study bacteria and viruses. In 4th Year, you will learn about the latest international research in genetics and other biosciences from visiting international seminar speakers.