Genetics and environmental mutagenesis
(objectives)
The aim of the course is to provide students with the information necessary for understanding the theoretical foundations of classical and modern genetics and the experimental approaches that have allowed their definition. Students will have to learn the logic of formal genetic analysis and the methodologies of genetic dissection of biological phenomena. They will have to know how to connect the concepts of genotype and phenotype and the interaction of these with the environment. A relevant chapter of the course will be dedicated to the students' acquisition of the concepts of mutation, mutagenesis and repair of genetic damage; as well as the impact that these processes have in the generation of syndromes, in the onset of degenerative diseases and in the evolution of populations. The notions will be provided to understand the paradigm shift that took place in the post-genomic era, and the understanding of the importance of both eukaryotic and prokaryotic model systems will be stimulated. Knowledge and understanding. To have developed the knowledge of the principles of formal genetics: Mendelism, sex-linked inheritance, mapping of genes in eukaryotes and prokaryotes, mutations, regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, genetics of populations. Having acquired the basic notions of Environmental Mutagenesis and Molecular Genetics and having understood the potential of post-genomic analysis. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding. Knowing how to use the notions learned in class and developed in the exercises to interpret the patterns of inheritance and to solve problems in the various fields of Genetics. Autonomy of judgment. Being able to identify the appropriate rules of Genetics to apply to the resolution of new problems even if similar to those discussed in class. Communication skills. The students' ability to speak, reason and discuss the questions raised during the lessons regarding the topics covered will be stimulated. Learning ability. To be able to discuss scientific issues related to Genetics also in its medical applications and in its evolutionary implications. This skill will be developed and tested by involving students in oral discussions in the classroom.
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Teacher
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PRANTERA Giorgio
(syllabus)
The Mendel's analysis Genetic variability The law of segregation The law of independent assortment Genes and alleles: the concept of polymorphism Extensions of mendelian inheritance Variations of dominance relationships Multiple alleles Pleiotropy Multifactorial inheritance Inheritance of quantitative traits The Chromosome theory Mitosis and meiosis Sex linked inheritance Meiosis and Mendel's laws Linkage and recombination Gene linkage Crossing over Χ2 statistical test Genetic maps Three point test Mitotic recombination and genetic mosaicism The DNA is the molecule of the heredity The experiments that designated DNA as the genetic material The Watson and Crick model DNA replication DNA recombination The gene at work The mutations Genetic dissection through mutations The one gene-one enzyme hypothesis Complementation test The gene fine structure The Benzer's experiments The gene expression The genetic code Transcription Translation The eukaryotic chromosome The structure of chromatin The radial loop model Centromeres Telomeres Nucleolus organizing regions (NORs) Chromosome rearrangements Structural changes Deletions Duplications Inversions translocations Mobile elements Changes in chromosome number Polyploidy Aneuploidy Genetic analysis in bacteria Transformation Conjugation Transduction Recombination mapping Gene Regulation in prokaryotes Regulation of Lac genes The operon theory Regulation of Tryptophan genes Attenuation Gene regulation in eukaryotes Transcriptional regulation Posttranscriptional regulation The role of chromatin structure Epigenetic inheritance Euchromatin and heterochromatin Position effect variegation X chromosome inactivation in mammals Recombinant DNA techniques and genomics DNA manipulation Nucleic acid hybridization PCR Gene cloning DNA sequencing The sequencing of the genomes SNPs Microsatellites Genetic analysis of populations How to calculate the frequencies of alleles How to calculate the frequencies of genotypes The Hardy-Weinberg law Changes in allele frequencies How the populations evolve
(reference books)
Hartwell, Hood, Goldberg, Reynolds, Silver, Veres: “Genetics - from genes to genomes”, 3rd edition, McGraw-Hill
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Dates of beginning and end of teaching activities
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From to |
Delivery mode
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Traditional
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Attendance
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not mandatory
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Evaluation methods
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Written test
Oral exam
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