00451 - Genetics

Academic Year 2010/2011

  • Docente: Daniela Guerra
  • Credits: 6
  • SSD: BIO/18
  • Language: Italian
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Mathematics (cod. 8010)

Learning outcomes


Course contents

DNA as genetic material: critical experiments. DNA structure and replication. The Meselson-Stahl experiment. The structure of a gene and the  chromosome organization. The different genomes: plasmids, viruses, organellar DNA, prokaryotes, eukaryotes. DNA sequence organization in Eukaryotes. Gene expression: transcription, the genetic code, translation. An outline of gene expression control in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Mendelian inheritance: Monohybrid and Dihybrid Crosses. Extensions of Mendelian genetic analysis: allele and gene interactions. Chromosome Basis of Inheritance, Sex Determination and Sex Linkage. Linkage, Crossing-Over, and Gene Mapping in Eukaryotes. Genetic Recombination in Bacteria and Bacteriophages: Transformation, Conjugation, Transduction. Gene Mutations: molecular bases and functional effects. Chromosomal mutations : structural and numerical changes and phenotypic effects. Population genetics: allele and genotype frequencies, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Forces that change gene frequencies. Quantitative genetics: the nature of continuous traits, statistical tools for the analysis of the variability. Recombinant DNA: restriction enzymes, cloning vectors, PCR.

Readings/Bibliography

- P.J.RUSSELL, iGenetica Fondamenti. EdiSES-NAPOLI

- B.A. PIERCE ., Genetica . ZANICHELLI-BOLOGNA

Teaching methods

The course ( 7 CFU) is divided in: lectures ( 44 hours, 4.5 CFU), problem solving sessions (12 hours, 1 CFU), practicals (8 hours, 0.5 CFU).

Assessment methods

Written and oral examination

Teaching tools

PowerPoint presentations

Links to further information

http://www.dipartimentobiologia.it/CdL_scienze_naturali/didattica.asp

Office hours

See the website of Daniela Guerra