Learning objectives
Genetics is a fundamental course of the first year of the degree in Biology. It begins with the Mendelian inheritance and its extensions (theory and exercises). The extension of the Mendelian view of the gene to the modern view - the gene as a unit of transcription - is the central part of the course. Thus, the structure and organization of the genetic material, and its expression through replication, transcription and translation, are exhaustively presented. Regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes as well as in eukaryotes is explained in detail. The process of mutation in genes, chromosomes and genomes allows for an adequate understanding of the evolution of the genetic material. The last part of the course relies on the genetics of populations and the genetics of quantitative traits, with particular emphasis to the origin, maintenance and significance of the genetic variability. Finally, a few lessons concern the evolutionary genetics at the molecular level (DNA and protein sequence analysis with bioinformatics tools).
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of Zoology, Mathematics, General and Organic Chemistry
Course unit content
Mendelian and molecular genetics
Full programme
The numbers of chapters and paragraphs are referred to the adopted book.
Chapter 1) Introduction to genetics
Chapter 2) Mitosis and meiosis (outlines)
Chapter 3) The Mendelian inheritance
Chapter 4) Extension of the Mendelian inheritance
Chapter 5) Gene mapping in eukaryotes
Chapter 6) Genetic analysis and mapping in bacteria and bacteriophages
Chapter 7) Sex determination and sexual chromosomes
Chapter 8) Chromosome mutations: variation of number and structure of chromosomes
Chapter 10) Structure and analysis of DNA
Chapter 11) Replication and recombination of DNA (until paragraph 11.11)
Chapter 12) Organization of DNA into chromosomes
Chapter 13) The genetic code and transcription
Chapter 14) The translation and the proteins
Chapter 15) Gene mutations, DNA repair and transposition (until paragraph 15.8)
Chapter 16) Regulation of the gene expression in prokaryotes (until paragraph 16.6)
Chapter 17) Regulation of the gene expression in eukaryotes (until paragraph 17.5, paragraph 17.8)
Chapter 24) Quantitative genetics and multifactorial traits
Chapter 25) Population genetics
Chapter 26) Evolutionary genetics (outlines)
Bibliography
Concepts of Genetics. W.S. Kug, M.R. Cummings, CA Spencer (Pearson Editor)
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons and practical (problems of mendelian genetics)
Assessment methods and criteria
The student will sustain a written exam, consisting of three exercises (a pedigree analysis, an extensions of the Mendelian inheritance, a gene mapping in eukariotic organisms). After getting through the written exam, the student will sustain the oral exam, which includes two parts: i) extension of the Mendelian inheritance to population, evolutionary genetics, and genetics of quantitative traits ii) molecular genetics. A total of nine-ten exam session are scheduled during the academic year
Other information
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