You will be working individually to produce a scientific poster that investigates current molecular laboratory techniques used for the detection of viral, prion, parasitic, or fungal pathogens. A list of suggested molecular diagnostics techniques will be made available on the subject Moodle site, under Assessment 1- Topic Selection.

Each of you must:

1. Select a topic from the provided list by the end of Week 2 (Friday, 25 July, 11:59 PM).
2. focus on one molecular diagnostic technique
3. use PowerPoint to prepare your poster as follows:

• Title: Include the technique and relevance (e.g., “PCR for Viral Pathogen Detection”)
• Introduction / Background: Briefly explain what the technique is and why it's important in diagnostics.
• Principle of the Technique: Describe how the method works (include diagrams/flowcharts if possible).
• Applications in Clinical Diagnostics: Provide examples of pathogens or diseases diagnosed with the technique.
• Advantages and Limitations (combine into one section): Use a simple table or bullet points to contrast pros and cons.
• References: Cite 4–6 relevant peer-reviewed sources from the past 10 years.

Submission: Please submit online along with the poster file by the specified due date in week 7, on Monday 1st September 2025 by 9:00 AM
Level of Gen AI allowed: Level 2 Planning: You may use Al for planning, idea development, and research. Your final
submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.

Your scientific poster will be assessed on the accuracy and clarity of the content, including a clear explanation of the principle of the diagnostic technique, its clinical applications, and relevant examples. You should use recent scientific literature (preferably published within the last 10 years) and include a balanced discussion of the advantages and limitations of the technique. The poster should be visually well-organized, with clear headings, concise text, and relevant images or diagrams to support understanding. Marks will also be awarded for clear communication, originality.

Molecular testing, using genetic amplification, for disease detection has become commonplace in most pathology workplaces. Tests that used to take days can now be done in an hour or 2, making turn-around times shorter and clinical decision making easier. Understanding how and why these tests are done is vital for a Medical Laboratory Scientist.

For this assessment you will be given a range of scenarios with different diseases and will be asked to design a molecular experiment to determine the status of the disease in a specific patient. Working in pairs you will research the disease and determine a specific genetic target to be tested. You and your student partner will then design a genetic amplification-based experiment, including describing specific primer sets, amplification conditions, reagents and equipment needed. Individually, you will then outline what you expect to see in terms of results and interpret what this means for the patient. There are 5 tasks associated with this assessment and are divided as follows

GROUP TASKS

• 1. Introduction to the Genetic Disorder
• 2. ARMS-PCR Principle.
• 3. Primer Design and PCR Setup.

INDIVIDUAL TASKS

• 4. Patient Result Interpretation.
• 5. Parental Testing Outcome.

Level of Gen AI allowed:  Level 2: You may use Al for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas

Assessment Criteria

You will be assessed on the following criteria:

• Identification of the molecular etiology of the disease.
• Appropriate design of molecular primers/probes to determine the presence or absence of disease.
• Accurate description of the experimental conditions for the genetic amplification test.
• Clear identification of the experimental outcomes.
• Appropriate use of referencing of scientific literature.

A detailed marking rubric will be available on the Moodle site for this unit.

The residential school assessment for LMED29001 Genomic Pathology 1  includes the completion and submission of a Laboratory Workbook, which must be submitted on the final day of the residential school. This assessment will be graded on a PASS/FAIL basis, requiring an overall mark of at least 50% to pass. The three-day program consists of engaging, case study-based laboratory practicals, designed to give you hands-on experience that mirrors real-world diagnostic pathology practice. To make the most of your time, enhance your understanding of the workbook tasks, and perform well in the 30-minute
invigilated final theory assessment, it is strongly recommended that you review the laboratory manual and workbook before attending the residential school.

Level of GenAI use allowed:
Level 1: You must not use Al at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge.

Please bring the following items with you to the residential school for  LMED29001 Genomic Pathology

1. A printed copy of the LMED29001 Laboratory Manual
2. A printed copy of the Student Laboratory Workbook
3. A permanent fine-tip marker in your favourite colour
4. Pens, pencils, and a scientific calculator (a smartphone app is acceptable)

Please note the 72 hours grace period does not apply for this task

You will be assessed on the following criteria:

• completion of the experiments outlined in the laboratory manual
• an understanding and adherence to the safety protocols dealing with blood handling
• displaying sufficient understanding of the experimental techniques as assessed by answering workbook
  questions

Marks will be allocated within the Laboratory workbook for each section, and marking rubric will be available on the Moodle site for this unit.