18762 - Genetic Engineering

Academic Year 2006/2007

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Biological sciences (cod. 0091)

Learning outcomes

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to methods and applications of genetic engineering.

Course contents

Techniques used to obtain desired DNA fragments.
Site-directed mutagenesis.
Cloning vectors: plasmids, vectors based on the Lambda and P1 bacteriophages, cosmids. Artificial chromosomes: BACs and YACs.
Gene transfer methodologies in model organisms. P-element mediated germ line transformation in Drosophila; embryonic stem cell technology in mouse.
Transgenics and reverse genetic. Approaches to gene regulation and gene function.
Controlling transgene expression: inducible promoters, tissue-specific promoters, binary sistems of activation.
Gene silencing. Gene targenting. RNA interference.

Readings/Bibliography

GENETIC ENGINEERING: principles and techniques. Primrose S., Twyman R., Old B. ed. Zanichelli (Bologna)

Teaching methods

Lectures

Assessment methods

Written examination

Teaching tools

Power Point presentations.

Links to further information

http://www.dipartimentobiologia.it/research/rudellavalle.asp

Office hours

See the website of Roberto Bernardoni