87615 - Genetics

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, the student gains knowledge of the fundamental principles of heredity; he is familiar with the nature, transmission, expression and variability of genetic information and is able to rigorously interpret genetic experimental data.

Course contents

• Introduction to genetics
• Mendelian Genetics
  • Gregor Mendel and basic principles of heredity; monohybrid crosses (dominance and segregation); dihybrid crosses (independent assortment)
  • Predicting the outcome of genetic crosses; probability and Chi-Square test
• Cell division, mitosis and meiosis, chromosomal basis of inheritance
  • Sexual reproduction, mitosis and meiosis.Chromosome theory of inheritance
  • Sex determintion and sex-linked inheritance
  • Dosage compensation in mammals
• Human pedigree analysis
• Extensions and modifications of basic mendelian principles
  • Allelic variation and gene function; why some alleles are dominant and other recessive; types of dominance, reduced penetrance, lethal alleles.
  • Genetic heterogeneity, gene interactions and epistasis.
• Linkage, recombination, gene mapping in Eukaryotes
  • Linked genes and crossing over; Constructing genetic maps with recombination frequencies
  • Linkage analysis in human; DNA polymorphisms as genetic markers; the lod-score method
• Overview of genetics of bacterial and viral genetic systems
• Genetic variation, DNA repair and recombination
  • Genetic variability; mutation and polymorphisms; types of genetic variants; molecular basis of mutations; point mutations and their consequences; mutagenesis
  • DNA repair mechanisms; DNA recombination mechanisms
  • Variation in chromosome number and structure; mechanisms of structural variation
• Population genetics
  • Variation in populations; the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium
  • Factors that alter allele and genotype frequencies in populations
    
• Overview of basic techniques in molecular genetics and genomics
  • Basic techniques used to identify, amplify, clone and sequence genes; DNA libraries; genetic, cytogenetic and physical maps
  • The Human Genome Project; map based cloning of genes; association and linkage disequilibrium
  • Analyzing genomic variation
• Introduction to complex traits
  • Heritability
    
  • Mapping complex traits

LABORATORY practicals

•Genomic DNA extraction from buccal swab cells

•PCR amplification  

•SNP Genotyping  by restriction enzyme digestion

Readings/Bibliography

Recommended textbook:

Genetics: From Genes to Genomes

Goldberg-Fischer-Hood-Hartwell

McGrawHill Education

 

Other  textbooks:

Introduction to Genetic Analysis, by Griffiths, Wessler, Carroll, and Doebley.

Principles of Genetics , by D. Peter Snustad, Michael J. Simmons

Genetics. Analysis & Principles, by Robert J.Brooker

Concepts of Genetics, by Klug, Cummings, Spencer

 

Teaching methods

For learning purposes, attendance of lectures and lab practicals is recommended

The course provides Integrative Digital Didactic (DDI) instruments to support learning activities and exam preparation. On the Virtuale Platform, students will have access to:
- lecture slides, articles and links to web pages, made available prior to the lecture and subdivided for each topic in the syllabus
- links to videos and animations, as extra support to better understand the concepts illustrated in the lecture.
- A series of problems with solutions, divided by topic
- self-assessment quizzes, made available at the end of each course topic
- To stimulate students' interest and involvement, interactive activities are provided during the lessons (Wooclap platform)

Laboratory practicals:

In order to attend this activity all students (including all the international incoming exchange students, i.e. ERASMUS)
must  attend Module 1, 2 online https://www.unibo.it/en/study/life-at-university-and-in-the-city/health-and-assistance/health-and-safety/online-course-on-health-and-safety-in-study-and-internship-areas

 while Module 3 on health and safety is to be attended in class. Information about Module 3 attendance schedule is available on the website of your degree programme

https://corsi.unibo.it/1cycle/Genomics/health-and-safety-mandatory-training

Assessment methods

Final written exam including multiple choice questions, questions with open answers and problem solving

Teaching tools

Course materials (ppt presentazions, problems and solutions, suggested readings) will be available here https://virtuale.unibo.it

Office hours

See the website of Elena Maestrini