Mendelian genetics and its extensions. Quantitative characters. Chromosomal basis of inheritance. Genetic mapping in Eukaryotes. Bacterial genetics. DNA structure and organization. DNA replication, transcription, protein synthesis. RNA processing. Regulation of gene expression. Recombinant DNA technology. Mutations in genes, chromosomes and genomes. Physical and chemical mutagens. Recombination. Transposable elements. Organelle genomes and inheritance. Population genetics.
Russell (2009) iGenetics, A Molecular Approach. 3rd edition. Benjamin Cummings Publishing Company.
Pierce B. A. 2013. Genetics: a conceptual approach (5th edition). WH Freeman.
Learning Objectives
Knolewdge acquired: Principles of heredity: Mendel laws, their extensions and deviations (gene interactions, sex-linked inheritance, extranuclear inheritance). Quantitative characters. Genetic mapping in Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes. Structure and function of the hereditary material. Gene expression (transcription, splicing, translation) and its regulation in Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes. Recombinant DNA technology and its applications. Mutation; types, causes, repair mechanisms. Principles of population genetics.
Competence acquired: Understanding of the basic principles of heredity, organization and function, and change of DNA, in organisms and populations.
Skills acquired (at the end of the course):
Application of the acquired knowledge to problems in classical genetics and genetic map construction. Critical evaluation of the use of genetics in a social and ethical context.
Prerequisites
Courses to be used as requirements (required and/or recommended)
.
Courses required: none
Courses recommmended
Teaching Methods
Total hours of the course (including the time spent in attending lectures, seminars, private study, examinations, etc...): 150
Hours reserved to private study and other indivual formative activities: 100
Contact hours for: Lectures (hours): 48
Contact hours for: Laboratory (hours): 0
Contact hours for: Laboratory-field/practice (hours): 0
Seminars (hours): 0
Stages: 0
Intermediate examinations: 2
Further information
Frequency of lectures, practice and lab: recommended, not mandatory
Teaching tools: the slides shown during the lessons are available for downloading from Dr. Bettini’s personal page at the DBE site (http://www.dbe.unifi.it).
At the laboratory of Genetics, via Madonna del Piano 6, Sesto Fiorentino. Send an email to fix an appointment.
Type of Assessment
Oral examination.
Course program
Mendelian inheritance. Extensions of Mendelian genetic analysis. Sex-linked inheritance. Chromosomal basis of inheritance. Linkage, recombination and gene mapping. Transfer of genetic material (transformation, conjugation, transduction) and gene mapping in Prokaryotes. Structure and organization of the hereditary material in viruses, Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes. The “central dogma”. DNA replication. Transcription in Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes. RNA maturation (capping, polyadenylation, splicing). Protein synthesis. Regulation of gene expression in Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes. DNA mutation and repair. Point mutations. Variations in Chromosome structure and number. Mutagens. Molecular basis of recombination. Transposable elements. Recombinant DNA technology and its applications. Organelle genomes, extranuclear inheritance. Elements of population genetics (Hardy-Weinberg law, variations in the genetic structure of populations). Elements of quantitative genetics.