Certificate in Genetic Counseling acquaints doctors with the core concepts of Human Genetics and understanding of the psychological basis of counselling; so that they can continue their practice with comprehensive knowledge of Genetics; duly prescribing Genetic Tests and interpreting related reports or practice as Genetic Counselors.


Course At A Glance

  • Course: Certificate Course in Genetic Counselling
  • Total Duration: 24 weeks
  • Hours per week: 3 – 4 hours per week
  • The medium of instruction: English

About the Course

The last few decades have witnessed an exponential growth in knowledge, catapulting genetics from obscurity to a pre-eminent place in health-care. New information about causative genes, disease diagnosis and available treatment options for several single gene and complex genetic disorders as well as several birth defects are now known to make disease diagnosis and treatment easier. It is critical that clinicians learn about these developments and incorporate this knowledge into their practice.

Each and every patient should be able to benefit from individualized therapy based on their unique genetic makeup; however, this can become a reality only when clinicians are able to comprehend the genetics behind the diseases and syndromes. More importantly, the implications of these must be explained to the patients and relatives in a professional and compassionate manner. Such education and counselling accompanying genetic testing is provided by Genetic Counselors in all developed countries; this kind of professional training is being given for the first time in India for clinicians.

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Career Prospects

The doctors could practice as genetic counsellors or continue their practice with comprehensive knowledge of genetics, duly prescribing genetic tests and interpreting related reports. The course will also give them an understanding of the psychological basis of counselling.

Recommended Background / Entry Requirements

  • M.B.B.S
  • MSC Genetics, MSC -sciences, BSc -Sciences, Micro-biology, Genetics.
  • An aspiration to pursue higher education in this speciality

Course Syllabus

Basics of Human Genetics

  1. Introductory Lecture by Course Director
  2. Basics of Human Genetics
  3. Morphology of Chromosomes – I
  4. Morphology of Chromosomes – II
  5. Sex Chromosomes
  6. Structural Abnormalities Involving Human Chromosomes
  7. Numerical Chromosomal Abnormalities-01
  8. Mitosis
  9. Meiosis
  10. Cell Cycle DNA Synthesis and Repair
  11. Pedigree Analysis – I
  12. Pedigree Analysis – II
  13. Autosomal Dominant Inheritance
  14. Autosomal Recessive Inheritance
 Molecular and Biochemical Genetics

  1. DNA Structure and Replication
  2. DNA Transcription
  3. DNA Translation
  4. DNA Repair
  5. Gene Concept
  6. Epigenetics
  7. Tumour Suppressor Genes and Oncogenes
  8. Mitochondrial mutations
  9. Apoptosis
  10. Understanding Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine
  11. Gene Polymorphism: Diabetes Mellitus, Cancer and Infectious Diseases
Clinical Genetics

  1. Overview of Metabolism
  2. Inborn Metabolic Disorders
  3. Genetic Diseases of Metabolic Pathways
  4. Immunology
  5. Immunological Disorders
  6. Genetic Aspects of Immunology
  7. Male Reproductive System
  8. Female Reproductive System
  9. Menstrual Cycle
  10. Fertilization and Pregnancy
  11. Embryology In Brief
  12. Teratology
  13. sex determination
  14. Ambiguous Genitalia And X-linked Diseases
  15. Genetics in Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Applied Genetics

  1. Cancer Genetics
  2. Skin as a Window to Genetic Diseases
  3. Dynamic Mutations
  4. Genetic Disorders
  5. Thalassemia
  6. Leukemias
  7. Chronic Leukemias
  8. Lymphoma
  9. Transfusion Medicine
  10. Hereditary Cancer Syndromes
  11. Breast Cancer
 Applied Genetics-contd
12.Cervical Cancer13.Endometrial Cancer14Head and Neck Cancer15Haemoglobinopathies16GIT Cancer

17.Population Genetics

18Breast Cancer

19Role of Antenatal Scans

Genetic Testing and Genetic Counselling

  1. Genetic Tests for Better Health Care
  2. Medical Ethics
  3. Pre Natal Diagnosis
  4. Molecular Biology Techniques
  5. Genomic DNA Isolation from Blood
  6. Gel Electrophoresis
  7. Basics on Polymerase Chain Reaction
  8. Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism
  9. DNA Sequencing Technologies
  10. Comet Assay
  11. Biochemical Tests
  12. Haematological Tests
  13. Infertility Tests
  14. Introduction to Counselling
  15. Individual Genetic Counselling
  16. Family Counselling
  17. Group Counselling
  18. Mock presentation_ Infertility
  19. Mock presentation_ Prenatal
  20. Mock presentation_ Cancer
  21. Mock presentation_ Thalassemia

The course is a hybrid mix of self-paced learning using pre-recorded lectures that can be accessed online or offline. Course Delivery Format

  • OPTIONAL:  This course suggests/recommends contact sessions in hospitals equipped with Genetic Labs.

Panel of Instructors

Dr. Q (Annie) Hasan

Senior Consultant & Head
Dept of Genetics & Molecular Medicine
Kamineni Hospital, L.B. Nagar, Hyderabad

Dr Y R Ahuja

Director Research
Dept of Genetics & Molecular Medicine
Vasavi Medical & Research Centre, Hyderabad


Dr Deena Patil

Consultant Dermatologist
Columbia Asia Hospital, Yeshwanthpur, Bangalore


Dr Vijayalakshmi Kodati

Medical Superintendent
Durgabai Deshmukh Hospital, Vidyanagar, Hyderabad
Consultant Gynecologist & Research Coordinator,
Vasavi Medical & Research Centre, Hyderabad

Dr Vasavi Mohan

Senior Scientific Officer
Department of Genetics, Vasavi Medical & Research Centre, Hyderabad

Dr T Ravinder Rao

Former Professor, Clinical Research
Institute of Clinical Research (ICRI) , Hyderabad Campus, Hyderabad

Dr Kiran Rathore

Clinical Psychologist
Consultant, MModal Global Services Pvt Ltd. & Keshav Memorial Institute of Technology, (KMIT), Hyderabad

Ms Winnie Thomas

PhD Research scholar
Department of Genetics and Molecular Medicine,
Vasavi Medical & Research Centre

Ms Pavani Upendram

Genetic Counselor & Molecular Scientist
Department of Genetics, Kamineni Life Science
Kamineni Hospital, L.B. Nagar, Hyderabad

Assessment

  • There will be a Final Online MCQ exam with 50 marks.
  • The students have to get 50% marks for successful completion of the course.

Admission Schedule

  • You may register online .

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Suggested Reading

  • Lewin’s Genes XI by Jocelyn E. Krebs, Stephen T. Kilpatrick, Elliott S. Goldstein
  • Human Molecular Genetics by Tom Strachan, Andrew Read
  • Emery’s Elements of Medical Genetics 14th edition by Sian Ellard and Peter Turnpenny
  • Practical Genetic Counselling 7th Edition by Peter S. Harper
  • A Guide to Genetic Counseling by Wendy R. Uhlmann, Jane L. Schuette, Beverly Yashar