Molecular and Genetic Applications in Epidemiology

Molecular and Genetic Applications in Epidemiology

Discussions are designed to promote dialogue between faculty and students, and students and their peers. In the discussions, students should

demonstrate an understanding of the concepts for the module;

integrate professional resources;

engage in meaningful and respectful dialogue with classmates; and

express thoughts clearly and logically.

Course Outcomes

This discussion provides documentation of student ability to meet the following course outcomes:

CO3: Explain the impact of proposed, ongoing and/or completed epidemiological studies on current public health programs and initiatives.

CO6: Evaluate how ethics, economics, and science impact epidemiology’s role in public health policy development.

Molecular science and genetics play a role in epidemiology. It can help us find disease earlier, identify infectious agents, learn more about environmental exposures, and plays a role in the prevalence of inherited disorders and diseases.

This week you will explore this work to learn more about the role that molecular science and genetic play in epidemiology and public health. You will do this by completing the list below:

Complete a literature search for a recent article about genetic or molecular epidemiology as it relates to a disease of your choice.

Summarize the article and the findings.

Report what type of study design was used.

Describe if segregation or linkage analysis was used.

Report information about genetic markers if applicable.

What was the frequency of the genetic marker if there was one?

What impact does this have on the prevalence of the disease.

Does the marker vary by race, ethnicity and if so, were the study groups comparable?

Report any other remarkable findings.

Report any limitations of the study.

Tell us how this could impact future studies or policies.