- Docente: Giuseppe Gargiulo
- Credits: 8
- SSD: BIO/18
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Biological Sciences (cod. 8012)
Learning outcomes
Main purpose of this course is to provide some basic knowledges of genetic methods and to explain necessary elements for understanding advanced genetic problems.
Course contents
DNA as the genetic material: experiments by Griffith, Avery-MacLeod-McCarty, and Hershey and Chase. The structure of DNA and RNA. The semi-conservative mechanism of DNA replication: the experiment of Meselson e Stahl. Organization of DNA in chromosomes, chromatin structure. Replication of circular DNA. DNA replication in eukaryotes. Mitosis and meiosis. Mendelian genetics, monohybrid crosses, crosses involving multiple loci, chi-squared test. Chromosomal basis of inheritance, sex determination and sex-linked characteristics, gene dosage compensation. The gene function: the “one gene, one enzyme hypothesis”. Extensions of mendelian genetic analysis, multiple alleles, gene interaction, interaction of sex and heredity, interaction of genes and environment. Maternal effect. Pedigrees. Linked genes and recombination. Bacterial and viral genetics. Analysis of the fine structure of the gene. Non-mendelian inheritance, mitochondria and chloroplasts. The genetic code. Gene mutations. Chromosomal mutations: variation in chromosome structure and number. Transposable elements. Overview of recombinant DNA technology: DNA coning, restriction enzymes, agarose gel elecrophoresis, restriction maps, construction of genomic libraries. Overview of the regulation of gene expression. Genetic analysis of development: the Drosophila model.
Readings/Bibliography
Peter. J. Russell “Genetica Un approccio molecolare” – Quinta edizione, Edit. Pearson
Benjamin A. Pierce, GENETICA Seconda edizione italiana, Edit. Zanichelli
Teaching methods
Lectures. Practical work in the lab (one credit).
Assessment methods
The critical assessment of the student's preparation is carried out
through a written and oral examinations. The written test aims at
ascertaining the skills acquired in solving genetic problems
relative to the program of the course; students are admitted to the
oral exam upon passing the written exam. The oral exam is aimed to
assess the knowledge of the content of the course. The final score
takes into account both performances of the written and oral
parts.
Teaching tools
power-point
Office hours
See the website of Giuseppe Gargiulo
SDGs
This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.