Doctor of Philosophy in Molecular Genetics - Molecular Medicine and Human Genetics

The Department of Molecular Genetics is administered from the Medical Sciences Building and has nearly 100 faculty members whose labs are located within the Medical Science Building, the Best Institute, the Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, the FitzGerald Building, the Hospital for Sick Children, Mount Sinai Hospital, the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, and Princess Margaret Hospital.
The Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy programs in Molecular Genetics offer research training in a broad range of genetic systems from bacteria and viruses to humans. Research projects include DNA repair, recombination and segregation, transcription, RNA splicing and catalysis, regulation of gene expression, signal transduction, interactions of host cells with bacteria and viruses, developmental genetics of simple organisms (worms and fruit flies) as well as complex organisms (mice), molecular neurobiology, molecular immunology, cancer biology and virology, structural biology, and human genetics and gene therapy.
A new era in medical intervention is on the horizon, enabled by revolutionary advances in genetics and genomics. The Human Genome Project has changed our approach to biology and medicine. As the power of the genome sequence became evident, technologies have also rapidly advanced, allowing sequence data from individuals to be acquired at a phenomenal pace and at increasingly lower costs. Massively parallel sequencing (also known as next generation, or NextGen, sequencing) has ushered in the era of genomic and genetic medicine. Now, equipped with the genome sequence of a patient, scientists can diagnose genetic disease, identify future disease risk, home in on disease modifiers and predict responses to drugs. Researchers in the Department of Molecular Genetics have led the world in identification of single genes that, when mutated, cause diseases such as cystic fibrosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy, neurofibromatosis, and retinoblastoma. Now, researchers elucidate the more complex genetic basis of many multi-gene major disabling and fatal diseases including autism, muscular dystrophies, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and several kinds of cancer. The identification of disease-association genes and their products will facilitate a better understanding of their function, as it paves the way towards effective diagnostics, therapeutics and preventative measures.

Completed or nearing the completion of a four-year Bachelor of Science degree or equivalent (MSc or PhD (Direct Entry))
A B+ average or higher cumulatively in a BSc degree to be considered for our MSc program,
An A- average or higher cumulatively in their MSc or BSc to be considered for our PhD (Direct Entry) program.
Transcript Requirements

To be considered for the PhD (Direct Entry) program:
Applicants must have completed or are nearing the completion of a Master of Science degree. Applicants must have distinguished themselves during their MSc to be considered for our PhD (Direct Entry) program.
Applicants who have never been enrolled in an MSc program but have an average of A- or higher in all relevant courses from their BSc may be considered for the PhD (Direct Entry) program.

A scan of your unofficial transcripts (submitted online). Official transcripts are not required at this point.
Your CV (submitted online).
A letter of intent

IELTS - Minimum required score 7.0 (Academic) with at least 6.5 for each component.
TOEFL IBT - Overall Score - 93, Writing and Speaking- 22, TOEFL Paper-based Test - Overall Score 580 with TWE 5.