Genes in Focus: Understanding Genetic Disorders

This is a Biomedical sciences Subject Spotlight with Professor Bernadine from the University of West London. An interactive, cinematic course taster experience to allow students to gain insights into what it's like to study Biomedical sciences.

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This Subject Spotlight will deep dive into the fundamental concepts of genetics, including the role of genes, DNA, and proteins in heredity and biological function. We’ll highlight how genes influence traits, health, and susceptibility to diseases and discuss mutations - changes in DNA that can lead to genetic disorders. We’ll provide examples of such disorders with a focus on their causes, prevalence, and symptoms, emphasising the importance of biomedical research in developing treatments for these conditions. In particular, we’ll zoom in on fibrous dysplasia, a rare, nonhereditary genetic condition where abnormal fibrous tissue replaces healthy bone, leading to non-cancerous bone tumours. Finally, you’ll take part in a research activity, putting everything you have learned about genetic disorders into practice.

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About University of West London

At the University of West London, we are here to help you gain the skills, expertise and insight you will need to excel in you chosen career. We have a wide range of amazing industry-standard facilities, such as a Boeing 737 flight simulator, science labs, radio, TV and film production studios, nursing simulation centres, music recording suites, professional kitchens and more. We are based in West London, one of the UK’s most successful business regions, and you will be taught by highly experienced industry expert and have the chance to benefit from our close industry connections.

Meet the academics

Professor Bernadine

Bernadine Idowu is a Professor of Biomedical Sciences at the University of West London (UWL). She graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry from King’s College London, and a PhD in Biomaterials - Queen Mary University of London. On completing her PhD, she returned to King’s College London to research gene therapy. Later, she was headhunted to University College London to work on a tissue engineering project, specifically laryngeal transplantation, before continuing clinical research into bone tumours. Due to a passion for diversity and inclusion, she worked a part-time role in the central team, courtesy of the former President, Sir Ed Byrne which resulted in delivering on several projects addressing the action plans from the race equality charter mark. Examining the data demonstrated a lack of representation which led her to develop the Black Minority Ethnic (BME) Early Career Researcher (ECR) Conference, now an international annual conference currently in its 8th year, and a network of over 1000 people has been born out of it. Her students nominated her for the STAR awards, organised by the UWL Student Union for the Best Lecturer in the School of Biomedical Sciences for four consecutive years, which she won from 2020 to 2023.

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Certificate of completion

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Frequently Asked Questions

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This subject spotlight is made for students aged 16 and above, that are considering applying to University, particularly to study the subject in the title, or similar areas.

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