NTEGRATED MEDICAL GENETICS

Title: Recent progress in Huntington’s disease research.
Using Huntington’s disease (HD) as an example, describe two techniques that have been used to
unravel disease mechanisms or function of the HD gene. Highlight the rationale for their approach and
what the researchers discovered. Outline what the researchers did, why, and how, then summarise the
findings and the subsequent insights into disease mechanisms or gene function.
Setting the scene:
There should be brief introduction setting the background and introducing Huntington’s disease (300
words max) and the gene.
You can choose a single or different research articles. Remember to talk about the methods giving
details of what the researchers did, why, and how, and what insights were gained into HD, including
what we have learned about the normal function of the gene or how the mutant version of the gene
leads to disease.
You can finish with a brief conclusion (300 words max) about future directions.
There is no specific requirement about how you structure your assignment. It should follow the format
of a standard review article. This can include sub-headings, figures or Tables and a list of references
(from research articles) at the end, cited according to standard scientific conventions (not just URLs).
Figures and Tables must cite the original source and include a legend.
Learning Outcomes aligned to this Assessment:
On successful completion of this assessment, you will be able to:
b) Critically evaluate complex genetic concepts justifying links to multifactorial diseases.
c) Produce a coherent argument based on a critical analysis of complex scientific information that
is appropriately sourced from the literature.
d) Select data and/or information to formulate new ideas/hypotheses within an established
biological context.
e) Plan, produce and communicate a research project utilising good time management and
problem solving skills