GENETICS
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Full programme
- Bibliography
- Delivery method
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
To fully understand the course topics there are no specific requirements, however it is strongly recommended that the student acquires knowledge of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell organization and of the processes of mitosis and meiosis. These topics are dealt with in the Citology and histology course.
Assessment of the knowledge acquired in Genetics will be obtained through an exam at the end of the course. During the exam, the student will be asked to solve simple exercises to test the knowledge of classical genetics (such as those dealt with during course practice) and will be asked at least three questions spanning the whole program. In addition, the student's ability to synthesize and communicate information clearly, using a proper language, will be tested. The evaluation will be expressed in fractions of thirty: the exam is passed with a score of at least 18/30.
Aims of the Genetic course is to provide knowledge about the mechanisms underlying the transmission of Mendelian traits, the nature, organization and replication of the genetic material, the definition and organization of genes and regulation of their expression both in prokaryotes and eukaryotes and the relation between the different types of mutations (point mutation, structural or genomic mutation) and phenotypes. Bases of population genetics and microrganisms’ genetics will also be provided. The course is at the second semester of the first year and allows to understand how a single genome encodes for the complexity of structures and functions dealt with in the course of citology; moreover, it provides the bases for understanding the processes described in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology courses.
Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- identify hereditary transmission models in eukaryotes and predict expected genotypes and phenotypes in the progeny of a genetic cross;
- explain the mechanisms of DNA replication, transcription and translation of genetic information;
- formulate simple models on processes underlying evolution and, in general, to evaluate the effects of genetic variation at the different levels (mutations at the nucleotide, chromosomal, genomic level) on biochemical, physiological and molecular processes;
- describe bases of bacterial and viral genetics;
- describe potential biotechnological applications of elements and processes studied in the molecular genetics part of the course;
- explain in scientific language, using the appropriate terminology, the hereditary mechanisms and molecular genetics processes that have been learnt.
- explain in scientific language, using the appropriate terminology, the hereditary mechanisms and molecular genetics processes that have been learnt.
The course is organised into lectures, for a total of 56 hours (7 CFU), and Exercise practice for 12 hours (1 CFU).
The topics dealt with during lectures are the following:
Classical genetics
◦ Revision of cell structure in plants and animals; chromosomes, mitosis and meiosis, genetic and biological importance of meiosis. Mendel’s method. Crosses of pure lines, F1 and F2. Segregation and independent assortment. Genes and alleles, phenotype and genotype. Monohybrid, dihybrid and trihybrid crosses; backcross. Multiple alleles and lethal alleles.
◦ Introduction to probability calculations. Concept of statistical test. Frequency distributions, binomial distribution. χ2 test.
◦ The chromosome theory of inheritance. Morgan’s experiments, sex-linked inheritance.
◦ Gene interactions. Mendelian genetics in humans: pedigrees and complications to the basic Mendelian pedigree patterns.
Gene concatenation (genetic linkage) and recombination. Backcross and mapping. Two and three-point mapping.
The nature of the genetic material (6 hours, 0.75 CFU)
◦ Discovery of the identity of the genetic material. DNA structure. Replication and transcription of DNA in the different model organisms.
Gene structure and function (8 hours, 1 CFU)
◦ The hypothesis one gene-one enzyme.
◦ Gene-protein colinearity.
◦ The genetic code: features and deciphering. Its universality.
◦ Gene mutations: molecular basis of mutations and their frequency. DNA repair systems. Reversion and suppression. The discovery of introns. The fine structure of the gene.
Changes in genomic organization (6 hours, 0.75 CFU)
◦ Organization and complexity of the genome
◦ chromosomal mutations: deletions, duplications, inversions and translocations and their genetic effects.
◦ genomic mutations: changes in chromosome number, polyploidy.
Mechanisms of Genetic Exchange in Bacteria (4 hours, 0.5 CFU)
◦ Parasexual processes: transformation, conjugation and transduction.
Gene expression regulation (8 ore, 1 CFU)
◦ General concepts.
◦ Gene expression regulation in Prokaryotes: lac and trp operons in E. coli.
◦ Overview of gene expression regulation in Eukaryotes: chromatin, promoters, alternative splicing, microRNAs.
Basics of genetic engineering (4 hours, 0.5 CFU)
◦ The bacterial system of DNA modification/restriction and enzymes for recombinant DNA technologies.
◦ DNA amplification by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).
Population genetics (4 hours, 0.5 CFU)
◦ Concept of mendelian population, genetic pool, allelic and genotypic frequencies. Hardy-Weinberg law.
◦ Effects of mutation, gene flow, selection and genetic drift on the gene pool of populations. Inbreeding, the differentiation between populations.
PRACTICE PROGRAM
Practice exercises (12 hours, 1 CFU)
During practice, the teacher will propose exercises to the classroom in an interactive way, aimed at exploring and improving the understanding of topics explained during the lectures, with particular regard to classical genetics: prediction of the results of specific genetic crosses, genealogic tree construction or analysis, study of gene interactions, construction of genetic maps and study of genes associated on the same chromosome.
The course is organised into lectures, for a total of 56 hours (7 CFU), and Exercise practice for 12 hours (1 CFU).
The topics dealt with during lectures are the following:
Classical genetics
◦ Revision of cell structure in plants and animals; chromosomes, mitosis and meiosis, genetic and biological importance of meiosis. Mendel’s method. Crosses of pure lines, F1 and F2. Segregation and independent assortment. Genes and alleles, phenotype and genotype. Monohybrid, dihybrid and trihybrid crosses; backcross. Multiple alleles and lethal alleles.
◦ Introduction to probability calculations. Concept of statistical test. Frequency distributions, binomial distribution. χ2 test.
◦ The chromosome theory of inheritance. Morgan’s experiments, sex-linked inheritance.
◦ Gene interactions. Mendelian genetics in humans: pedigrees and complications to the basic Mendelian pedigree patterns.
Gene concatenation (genetic linkage) and recombination. Backcross and mapping. Two and three-point mapping.
The nature of the genetic material (6 hours, 0.75 CFU)
◦ Discovery of the identity of the genetic material. DNA structure. Replication and transcription of DNA in the different model organisms.
Gene structure and function (8 hours, 1 CFU)
◦ The hypothesis one gene-one enzyme.
◦ Gene-protein colinearity.
◦ The genetic code: features and deciphering. Its universality.
◦ Gene mutations: molecular basis of mutations and their frequency. DNA repair systems. Reversion and suppression. The discovery of introns. The fine structure of the gene.
Changes in genomic organization (6 hours, 0.75 CFU)
◦ Organization and complexity of the genome
◦ chromosomal mutations: deletions, duplications, inversions and translocations and their genetic effects.
◦ genomic mutations: changes in chromosome number, polyploidy.
Mechanisms of Genetic Exchange in Bacteria (4 hours, 0.5 CFU)
◦ Parasexual processes: transformation, conjugation and transduction.
Gene expression regulation (8 ore, 1 CFU)
◦ General concepts.
◦ Gene expression regulation in Prokaryotes: lac and trp operons in E. coli.
◦ Overview of gene expression regulation in Eukaryotes: chromatin, promoters, alternative splicing, microRNAs.
Basics of genetic engineering (4 hours, 0.5 CFU)
◦ The bacterial system of DNA modification/restriction and enzymes for recombinant DNA technologies.
◦ DNA amplification by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).
Population genetics (4 hours, 0.5 CFU)
◦ Concept of mendelian population, genetic pool, allelic and genotypic frequencies. Hardy-Weinberg law.
◦ Effects of mutation, gene flow, selection and genetic drift on the gene pool of populations. Inbreeding, the differentiation between populations.
PRACTICE PROGRAM
Practice exercises (12 hours, 1 CFU)
During practice, the teacher will propose exercises to the classroom in an interactive way, aimed at exploring and improving the understanding of topics explained during the lectures, with particular regard to classical genetics: prediction of the results of specific genetic crosses, genealogic tree construction or analysis, study of gene interactions, construction of genetic maps and study of genes associated on the same chromosome.
Powerpoint presentations, tests and exercises will be made available in the e-learning site, but class attendance is highly recommended, in particular for exercise practice.
To complete preparation, one of the following Genetics textbooks is compulsory:
- Russell. Genetica. Un approccio molecolare. Pearson.
- Pierce. Genetica. Zanichelli.
- Snustad & Simmons. Principi di genetica. Edises.
- Binelli & Ghisotti. Genetica. Edises.
- Klug, Cummings & Spencer. Concetti di Genetica. Pearson.
The course is organised into 56 hours of lectures, with the use of powerpoint presentations and occasionally scientific movies, and 12 hours of practice with exercises that will actively engage students to solve classical genetics problems, to complete and verify their proficiency in Genetics. On completion of each of the course topics, tests for self-evaluation, consisting in questions with multiple answers, may be proposed and then discussed during classes, but they are not considered for final evaluation.
Students can contact the teacher by e-mail to ask directly questions regarding the topics discussed in the course or to ask for an appointment. It is mandatory to use the official student’s address, with the domain @studenti.uninsubria.it, when sending e-mails.