Master in Evolutionary Biology

Faculty of Science - Department of Zoology

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Description

The Master's Programme in Evolutionary Biology offers advanced knowledge of evolutionary biology is the science that investigates how a variety of interactive processes generate the heterogeneous forms, size and structural features of an organism that arise on the path from fetus to adult, or generally throughout the life cycle.

Objectives

- Familiarize students with the diversity of cellular differentiation, a process in which a stem cell changes from one type to a differentiated type. Usually, the cell changes to a more specialized type. - Regeneration indicates the ability to regrow a missing part. This is very prevalent amongst plants, which show continuous growth, and also among colonial animals such as hydroids and ascidians. - Metamorphosis Evolutionary processes are very clear during the transformation process. This happens in different types of animals. - Students' understanding of evolution techniques.

Outcomes

Students when obtained their master degree in evolutionary biology can: - Recognize the types of techniques related to evolution and the fundamentals of genetic engineering. - Linking diseases to the causes of their occurrence.

Certificate Rewarded

MSc in Evolutionary Biology 

Entry Reuirements

Obtaining a bachelor's degree in zoology or related fields.

Passing a differentiation exam for applicants in case the number of applicants is greater than the capacity of the division.

Study Plan

The Master in Evolutionary Biology prepares students to qualify for Master in Evolutionary Biology. The student studies several subjects which have been carefully chosen in this major to cover its different aspects.

It comprises 6 Semesters of study, in which the student will study a total of 30 units, which include 0 units of general subjects, and 0 major units

Study plan for this program is shown below:

1st Semester

Code Title Credits Course Type Prerequisite
ZO608 Epigenetics 03 Compulsory +

The student acquires new skills and techniques specific to synthesis scienc· Understanding the mechanisms involved in genetic control· Understand the importance of epigenetics in the process of gene expression, development and genome organization and stability.

ZO615 Cell & Molecular Biology 03 Compulsory +

This course will cover multidisciplinary approaches to address essential questions concerning cellular and molecular mechanisms of disease. There is a focus on important cellular processes including ER stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, protein synthesis and turnover, and DNA damage responses. Malfunctions within the pathways regulating these processes, often resulting from mutations in key proteins, cause a range of human diseases including cancer. To understand the structures, mechanism and regulations of the key complexes involved, we will cover a variety of methodologies from various disciplines, including biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, genetics, development, medicine and environmental science. As earlier lectures provide the foundation for the understanding of later lectures, continuous presence and active participation will be essential. The course focuses on how experimental data are obtained and interpreted, which should make the module especially valuable to students who are interested in experimental science.

2nd Semester

Code Title Credits Course Type Prerequisite
ZO621 Histogenesis 03 Compulsory +

Developmental Anatomy is an advanced course discusses the developmental stages of the animal’s body organ systems from fertilization to adult stages 1- Teaching students the basic developmental stages of living organism 2- understanding the detailed steps for development and formation of organs 3- relating the developmental relationships to steps of organ formation 4- Knowledge of the different developmental stages of all organ systems

3rd Semester

Code Title Credits Course Type Prerequisite
ZO641 Human Genetics 03 Compulsory +

· • The course aims at an in-depth understanding of the human genome, methods of inheritance, and hereditary diseases.· • Explain the concept of genetic regulation and the molecular mechanism that leads to genetic mutations.· • Describe the ethics of information related to genetic diseases• Teaching the student the basis of experiments and laboratory genetic analyses in the field of human genetics.

4th Semester

Code Title Credits Course Type Prerequisite
ST677 Advanced Biostatistics 03 General +

ZO640 Departmental Seminar 01 General +

General objective of the courseLearn the skills of preparing a successful panel discussion.Learn methods of presentation and delivery of information to attendees successfully. `- Learning methods of collecting information from sources and re-displaying it according to appropriate presentation methods.

ZO672 Scientific Writing 02 General +

General objective of the course• Know the basics and skills of scientific writing.• Choose a research topic.• Knowledge of research in sources.• The ability to write a research proposal.• Knowledge of publishing steps in scientific journals

Elective Subjects

Code Title Credits Course Type Prerequisite
ZO614 Biology of Cancer 03 Elective +

v This course aims to introduce students to the mechanisms of cancerous tissue formation.v Providing the student with the skills and requirements for detecting cancerous tissues and changing the fate of cells, and the ability to distinguish the factors that affect tissue formation and how to control them.v The ability to prepare a successful research plan to study cancerous tissue in the laboratory

ZO617 Gene Therapy 03 Elective +

· The general objective of this course is to instruct students in the basic terminology that used in Gene therapy to understand the correction of a genetic deficiency in a cell by the addition new DNA to the cell. · knowledge about gene and gene therapy· the methods used in gene therapy· how to replace the effective alleles with a functional normal allele (DNA techniques)

ZO644 Endocrinology 03 Elective +