Submission Date:
31st August.
Format:
5,000-6,000 words + appendices. 20-30 key references.
Aim:
The aim is to produce a concise report written plain English suitable for the intended reader. This is intentionally shorter than many of your course work essays. We want you to be able to read widely but be able to select only key references. Several of the topics represent practical written tasks which you may not have been exposed to in your undergraduate careers. Previous distinction graduates have demonstrated their ability for original work or thought. This might be as a result of an original finding in the research lab, by auditing procedures in the NHS lab and recommending a new practice, by reviewing the literature and making a recommendation for introducing a new facet of the medical genetics service, by being just plain original! An over-long literature review with several hundred unselected references and a "waffly" conclusion will not get distinction!
Topics are as follows:
A. Choose any country or population; research and then identify a genetic disorder which causes significant morbidity in that population. You should then develop laboratory or clinical skills to help diagnose the disorder and develop a strategy that will allow genetic counselling of affected families. Finally, you should write a report of your findings and recommend a strategy to the health minister of the country involved.
B. Choose an area of medical genetic clinical or laboratory practice that you feel requires further study and /or audit. Investigate it and write a critical appraisal. Finish your report by making recommendations for further study and/or future practice.
C. Choose any medical genetics topic of current public interest or concern and write an article for the general readership magazine “Science Today”.
D. Write a detailed grant application for a proposed PhD project.
E. Prepare a submission for a proposed project to the hospital ethical committee including full supporting documentation.
Or for students who have obtained a PhD place:
F. By arrangement with your future PhD supervisor, carry out some preliminary laboratory work and/or literature review and write a report justifying your proposed PhD project.
G. Students are free to choose any topic or laboratory work providing it is submitted in the above format.
Recent dissertation topics include: