BIOL2162 Course Outline March 2012

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIESST. AUGUSTINE

FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND AGRICULTUREDEPARTMENT OF LIFE SCIENCES

Course Title: Advanced Genetics

Course Code: BIOL 2162

Credits: 4

Level: Undergraduate Level II

Semester: ONE

Pre-requisites:

BIOL 1061: Cell Biology & Genetics

OR

BIOL 1364: Introductory Genetics AND BIOL 1362: Biochemistry 1

OR

AGRI 1011: Introduction to General Genetics AND AGRI 1013: Introduction to Biochemistry

Course Rationale Aims

Advanced Genetics (Genetics II- BIOL 2162) aims to build on the foundation of basic principles in Genetics through the delivery of advanced topics spanning three major topics: Cytogenetics, Prokaryotic Genetics and Molecular Genetics. More specifically, the course will deal with the organization, structure, function and regulation of the genetic material of prokaryotes and eukaryotes at the molecular and gross levels. An introduction to the concept of the gene and methodologies that have led to the advancement of knowledge on gene control will also be presented. This course will serve as a core requirement for the fulfilment of the Biology major in the Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies. Furthermore, this course serves as the feeder course to Microbiology (BIOL 2261), Microbial Biotechnology (BIOL 3262), Molecular Biology (BIOL 3061), Plant Biotechnology (BIOL 3762), Animal Biotechnology (BIOL 3865) and Crop Improvement (BIOL 3763). Careers which demand an advanced knowledge of Genetics include Plant Breeders, Conservation Geneticists, Biotechnologists and Genetic Engineers as well as teachers of Biology at the secondary and tertiary school levels.

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Course Delivery

The course will be delivered via 33 one-hour lectures and supplemented by 3 tutorial sessions. In addition students will have the opportunity to gain experience in the laboratory through the implementation of 6 five-hour practical sessions.

Lectures: 36 credit hours

Practicals: 6 x 5 = 30 hours = 15 credit hours

Course Content

Topic 1: Cytogenetics

Structure and organization of the chromosome (carriers of the genetic material) Staining methods for viewing chromosomes Regulation of gene expression at the chromosomal level Specialized forms of chromosomes Chromosomal mutations, changes in chromosome structure: The origins, inheritance,

evolutionary significance and diagnosis of chromosomal deletions, duplications (including multiple gene families), inversions and translocations

Chromosomal mutations, changes in chromosome number: The origins, inheritance, evolutionary significance and diagnosis of euploidy (autopolyploid and allopolyploid), and aneuploidy

Role of autopolyploids and allopolyploids in agriculture Epigenetics (heritable changes in gene function without a change in DNA sequence in

chromosomes): DNA methylation results in different phenotypes in genetically identical organisms; types of epigenetic imprinting; role of epigenetic markers in the remodeling of chromatin; inheritance of epigenetic imprints; role of epigenetics in establishing and maintaining cell identity; epigenetic switching

Homeobox genes (master control genes): Importance of homeobox genes in developmental processes in multicellular organisms; identifying homeobox genes; phylogenetic distribution of homeotic genes; regulation of homeotic gene complexes

Topic 2: Prokaryotic/ viral genetics

Prokaryotic genome structure and organization Genetic recombination in prokaryotes: conjugation, transduction and transformation Mechanism of each type of genetic recombination Creating genetic maps for bacterial chromosomes using conjugation

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Transposition (Transposons – mobile segments that cannot exist independent of a replicon): structure of the three types of transposons- insertion sequence elements, composite and non-composite; mechanism of transposition; significance of transposons in multiple drug resistance in bacteria

Gene fine structure analysis: recombination and complementation testing in bacteria; recombination and complementation spot test in bacteriophages; Benzer’s deletion mapping technique in bacteriophages; evolution of the concept of a gene

Topic 3: Molecular genetics

Molecular organization of the eukaryotic genome: genome structure and complexity; gene evolution, gene families and clusters; other repetitive sequences

Genomics DNA structure and models of DNA replication in viruses, prokaryotes and eukaryotes Polymerase chain reaction DNA transcription in prokaryotes and eukaryotes Post transcriptional modifications and mRNA processing Regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes (negative, positive and attenuation) Regulation of gene expression in viruses (bacteriophages ) Regulation of genes in eukaryotes (facultative and condensed chromatin, position effects, methylation) The nature of the genetic code, degeneracy of the genetic code DNA translation: structure and function of the ribosomes, role of tRNA, steps in DNA

translation Post translational modifications

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

Topic 1: Cytogenetics

Introduction to Chromosomes & Chromatin

i. Define cytogenetics, state the chromosome theory of inheritance and explain how it led to the evolution of cytogenetics.

ii. Describe chromosome structure at the macro and ultra-levels and define the unineme model.

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iii. Describe the procedure by which karyotyping is performed and state its importance in determining basic chromosome number, size, shape, chromosomal macromutations, ploidy levels.

iv. Differentiate between heterochromatin and euchromatin in a chromosome.v. Define and distinguish between the different types of heterochromatin: facultative,

constitutive & condensed.vi. Describe the staining methods used to visualize the forms of chromatin making up

chromosomes (Feulgen staining, G-banding, FISH, Q-banding, R-banding).vii. Discuss the role of chromatin in regulating gene expression at the chromosomal level

with a clear definition of the phenomenon of position effects.viii. Define and describe polytene chromosomes & lampbrush chromosomes as two

examples of specialized forms of chromosomes.ix. Explain the significance of polytene and lampbrush chromosomes and their role in

tissue specific amplification of gene expression.

Changes in chromosomal structure

Chromosomal Macromutations: Deletions

i. Define deletions.ii. Describe and distinguish between the different types of chromosomal deletions with the

aid of appropriate diagrams.iii. Describe the cytological and genetic methods used to detect chromosomal deletions.iv. Explain the consequences of deletions and describe the inheritance of deletions using

specific examples.v. Explain the evolutionary significance of chromosomal deletions.

Chromosomal Macromutations: Duplications

i. Define duplications.ii. Describe and distinguish between the different types of chromosomal duplications with

the aid of appropriate diagrams.iii. Describe the cytological and genetic methods used to detect chromosomal duplications.iv. Explain the consequences of duplications and describe the inheritance of duplications

using specific examples.v. Explain the evolutionary significance of chromosomal duplications using specific

examples.

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vi. Define multigene family (an important form of chromosomal duplication) and briefly describe specific examples of these (immune system super-family, collagen gene family, cytochrome P450 gene family).

vii. Describe how multigene families arise and evolve to generate functional diversity, environmental flexibility & developmental flexibility using specific examples.

viii. Describe the globin gene family in detail and explain how it contributes to developmental flexibility in humans.

ix. Define the term, pseudogene, as it relates to gene families and explain how they arise.

Chromosomal Macromutations: Inversions

i. Define inversions.ii. Describe and distinguish between paracentric and pericentric inversions with the aid of

appropriate diagrams.iii. Describe the cytological and genetic methods used to detect chromosomal inversions.iv. Explain and illustrate the meiotic consequences of crossovers within inversion loops for

pericentric and paracentric inversion heterozygotes.v. Describe and explain the phenotypic effects associated with chromosomal inversions

using specific examples.vi. Define the term apparent crossover suppression as it relates to chromosomal inversions

and explain how it differs from actual crossover suppression associated with other chromosomal macromutations such as deletions.

vii. Explain the evolutionary significance of chromosomal inversions using specific examples.

Chromosomal Macromutations: Translocations

i. Define translocations.ii. Describe and illustrate the different types of chromosomal translocations.

iii. Describe the cytological and genetic indicators used to detect chromosomal translocations.

iv. Describe and distinguish between alternate, adjacent-1 & adjacent-2 segregation patterns observed in meiosis for translocation heterozygotes.

v. Explain and illustrate the meiotic consequences of translocations in heterozygotes.vi. Describe and explain the phenotypic effects associated with chromosomal

translocations using specific examples (Robertsonian translocation; Down syndrome, familial Down syndrome).

vii. Explain the application of translocation heterozygotes in pest control.

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viii. Explain the evolutionary significance of chromosomal translocations using specific examples.

Changes in chromosome number

Polyploidy

i. Define and distinguish between the basic chromosome number (x), the haploid number (n) and the total chromosome number.

ii. Define the term polyploidy.iii. Define and distinguish between the two main forms of ploidy: euploidy & aneuploidy.iv. Define and distinguish between autopolyploidy and allopolyploidy as forms of euploidy.v. Explain how non-disjunction in mitosis and meiosis can lead to the formation of

autopolyploids. vi. Explain how autopolyploidy can be induced artificially.

vii. Describe the inheritance of autopolyploidy and explain the sterility observed in triploids.viii. Describe the polyploidy series in Musa spp (autopolyploids).

ix. Explain and illustrate how interspecific hybridization followed by diplodization can lead to the formation of allopolyploids.

x. Discuss the role of allopolyploidy in evolution using specific examples.xi. Discuss the significance of polyploids in agriculture.

xii. Define and distinguish between the two forms of aneuploidy: hypoploidy & hyperploidyxiii. Use established nomenclature to describe various states of aneuploidy (monosomic,

nullisomic, trisomic, double monosomic, etc.).xiv. Describe specific examples of aneuploidy in humans.

Heritable changes in cellular expression that occur without a change in the DNA sequence

Epigenetics & Chromatin Dynamics

i. Define the terms epigenetics and imprinting.ii. Describe the process of DNA methylation and explain its epigenetic effect on chromatin

remodeling and gene expression.iii. Identify methylation, phosphorylation & acetylation as epigenetic markers and describe

the mechanism by which these epigenetic patterns are established on histone proteins in the remodeling of chromatin.

iv. Explain how epigenetic imprints are inherited.

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v. Explain the role of epigenetics in establishing and maintaining cell identity.vi. Define the term epigenetic switching and differentiate between this process in plants

and animals.vii. Explain the significance of epigenetics in the development of cancer.

viii. Explain the consequences of epigenetic imprinting with respect to the cloning of humans.

Master control genes that regulate a cascade of other genes and control development in multicellular organisms

Homeotic genes- master control genes

i. Define homeotic genes as being gene families that share a common DNA sequence element (homeobox) in multicellular organisms and which function as master control genes (switch genes) that specify developmental patterns (regulation) by turning different processes of cellular differentiation on or off.

ii. Discuss how homeotic genes begin regulation from the very early stages of embryogenesis.

iii. Discuss the mechanism of function of homeotic genes in Drosophila melanogaster.iv. Discuss the origin and phylogenetic distribution of homeotic genes.v. Describe how homeotic genes are identified.

vi. Discuss how mutations in homeotic gene families such as the Hox gene can affect rib and limb development in humans.

Topic 2: Prokaryotic/ viral genetics

Genetic Recombination in Bacteria - Conjugation

i. Describe the main distinguishing features between eukaryotic and prokaryotic genomes with particular regard to structure, organization, inheritance/transmission & recombination.

ii. Define the term conjugation as it relates to bacterial recombination and state the requirements for successful genetic transfer via bacterial conjugation.

iii. Describe the U-tube experiment that provided evidence for conjugation as a mechanism of gene transfer between bacterial cells, eventually leading to genetic recombination.

iv. Describe the functions of the F-factor and its role in bacterial conjugation.v. Define and distinguish between donor (F+-strain) and recipient cells (F--strain).

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vi. Define the terms plasmid and episome and explain how they are different from each other.

vii. Compare and contrast bacterial conjugation involving F+, Hfr & Lfr strains giving detailed descriptions of the mechanism of transfer from donor to recipient.

viii. Define the term F’-factor and explain how it is formed.ix. Define the term F-mediated sexduction and explain how it leads to the formation of

merozygotes.x. Differentiate between F+, Hfr, Lfr & F’ strains with respect to the nature of the F-factor,

the ability to convert recipients to donors, fate of transferred DNA, recombination frequency & probability of recombination for any given bacterial gene.

xi. Describe the three conjugation mapping methods- interrupted mating, gradient of transfer and recombination mapping- used in constructing genetic maps of the bacterial chromosome.

xii. Critically assess the three mapping techniques in relation to each other highlighting any advantages or disadvantages that might be associated.

xiii. Perform problem-based solving in case studies involving conjugation mapping.

Genetic Recombination in Bacteria – Transduction (mediated through a bacteriophage)

i. Define the term bacteriophage and distinguish between virulent and temperate phages.ii. Compare and contrast the lytic and lysogenic infection cycles of λ-phage with the aid of

appropriate diagrams.iii. Define and distinguish between the terms prophage & lysogen.iv. Describe in detail the production of generalized & specialized transducing particles.v. Compare and contrast generalized and specialized modes of transduction especially

with respect to the type of phage life cycle employed, range of transducing capability, efficiency of transduction, probability of transduction for a given gene & fate of transferred DNA.

vi. Distinguish between Hft-lysate and Lft-lysate.

Genetic Recombination in Bacteria - Transformation

i. Define the term transformation as it relates to genetic recombination in bacteria.ii. Explain in detail the mechanism of bacterial transformation, highlighting the steps and

the essential requirements for the process to occur.iii. Describe Griffith’s experiment which demonstrated genetic recombination via

transformation in Pneumococci bacteria.

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iv. Define the term competency and describe how competency can be artificially induced in bacteria.

v. Discuss the factors that affect transformation efficiency.

Transposition in prokaryotes (ability of genes to change position in the bacterial chromosome)

i. Define the term transposition as the mobilization of genetic elements from one location in the genome to another.

ii. Describe and illustrate the structure of the three types of transposons: insertion sequence elements, composite and non-composite transposons and distinguish between them.

iii. Explain the function of transposase enzyme in the mobilization of insertion sequence elements.

iv. Describe the mechanism of transposition of insertion sequence elements and explain how target site sequences become duplicated.

v. Discuss the role and significance of transposons in multiple drug resistance.

Gene Fine Structure Analysis in prokaryotes

i. Define complementation and distinguish it from recombination.ii. Explain the difference the between recombination testing and complementation testing

especially with respect to their uses.iii. Describe in detail how recombination testing and complementation (cis-trans) testing

are carried out.iv. Discuss the merits and limitations of complementation tests.v. Construct complementation maps based on cis-trans test data.

vi. Define and distinguish between the terms cistron, muton & recon.

Gene Fine Structure Analysis in viruses

i. Describe the inheritance of plaque morphology in bacteriophages.ii. Describe the complementation spot test to determine whether mutations are in the

same or different cistrons.iii. Describe the role of complementation and recombination in the mapping of the rII-locus

in bacteriophage T4.

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iv. Describe Benzer’s deletion mapping technique and discuss its significance in gene fine structure analysis.

Topic 3: Molecular genetics

Molecular genetics- molecular organization of the eukaryotic genome

i. Outline the experiments that clearly showed that DNA is the genetic material.ii. Define the term C-value as the amount of nuclear DNA per haploid cell in base pairs.

iii. State the C-value paradox.iv. Differentiate between kinetic complexity, chemical complexity, and state briefly how

they are measured.v. Identify reasons for the increased size and complexity of genomes moving from

prokaryotes to unicellular eukaryotes and higher organisms.vi. Describe different methods used to predict/estimate gene number.

vii. Discuss the components that make up the non-repetitive, moderately repetitive and highly repetitive sequences of the genome and the role of each of the three types of sequences.

viii. Define the terms intron and exon and discuss the functions of each.ix. Critically discuss the evolutionary origin of introns: (introns first, introns early, introns

late).x. Discuss the theories on the evolution of genes in light of the understanding of the

variation of gene structure in organisms.

Genomics

i. Define the term genomics and discuss the importance of genomic analysis.ii. Describe and differentiate between functional and comparative genomics.

iii. Discuss the use of microarray technology and bioinformatics in functional genomics.iv. Differentiate between epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics as

new research areas based on genomics data.v. Briefly discuss the use of genomics data to design new drugs and vaccines (pharmacogenomics)

to combat human diseases.vi. Demonstrate knowledge of gene estimates for the human genome and discuss why

previous estimates have been continually lowered.vii. Discuss the organization and complexity of the human genome.

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viii. Describe and discuss the functions and origins of non-genic sequences in the human genome: (STR’s, LINES, SINES, microsatellites, minisatellites & VNTR’s).

ix. Outline the evolution of concept of a gene and gene locus from the Mendelian concept to the modern concept using genomics.

x. Describe the role of STR’s and microsatellites in DNA fingerprinting.

Genotypic function of DNA - DNA structure and models of replication

i. Describe the structure of DNA including its double helical nature consisting of complementary antiparallel strands (opposite polarity) and its major components.

ii. Define nucleotides as the building blocks of DNA molecules and state the constituents of a nucleotide monomer unit.

iii. Differentiate between the terms nucleotide and nucleoside.iv. Identify and describe the various models proposed to explain DNA replication

(conservative, semi-conservative & dispersive models).v. Describe in detail the Messelson & Stahl experiment which demonstrated evidence for

the semi-conservative model of DNA replication.vi. Describe and explain the experimental evidence to support a bi-directional mode of

DNA replication.vii. Describe and distinguish between theta-mode (moving fork) and sigma-mode (rolling

circle) replication.viii. Identify the enzymes involved in DNA replication as DNA polymerases and state the

necessary requirements for successful DNA replication.ix. Explain what is meant by semi-discontinuous replication of DNA and describe the

evidence that revealed this characteristic feature of DNA replication.x. Define the terms leading strand, lagging strand & Okazaki fragment as they relate to

semi-discontinuous DNA replication.xi. Explain what is meant by the growing point paradox of DNA replication and how it has

been resolved.xii. Define the term replisome as a multi-enzyme complex responsible for the replication of

DNA.xiii. Illustrate the structure of a typical prokaryotic replisome by means of a clearly labeled

diagram and describe the functions of the constituent enzymes.xiv. Differentiate between the replication apparatus of prokaryotes and eukaryotes.xv. Describe in detail the steps involved in DNA replication (initiation, elongation &

termination) and how they are facilitated by the replisome.

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xvi. Compare and contrast prokaryotic and eukaryotic DNA replication with particular emphasis on differences relating to the linear nature of eukaryotic chromosomes and the circularity of prokaryotic DNA molecules.

Polymerase chain reaction (in vitro method of DNA replication)

i. Describe the in vitro replication of DNA (Kornberg experiment), ii. Describe the three major steps in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

iii. Define C0t as the concentration of ss-DNA at time zero under standard conditions and state what information can be extracted from a C0t plot.

iv. Describe and discuss the applications of PCR in biotechnology.v. Describe the DNA reannealing experiment used in the assignment of sequence

abundant classes.

Phenotypic Function of DNA - Transcription

i. Define the term transcription as it relates to the Central dogma of biology.ii. Identify the enzyme involved in DNA transcription as RNA polymerase and describe its

characteristic features including the essential requirements for its function.iii. Explain in detail the steps involved in the process of transcription (initiation, elongation

& termination).iv. Compare and contrast the process of transcription in prokaryotes and eukaryotes.v. Draw and annotate the typical structure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic genes identifying

the major differences between the two.vi. Explain the consequences of the eukaryotic split-gene structure on the production of

mature mRNA and the need to remove introns from heterogeneous mRNA by splicing.vii. Describe and illustrate the steps involved in intron-splicing pathways that lead to the

production of mature mRNA in eukaryotes. viii. Describe the post-transcriptional modifications involved in the production of mature

eukaryotic mRNA that affect mRNA stability: 3’-polyadenylation & 5’-capping.

Regulation of Prokaryotic Gene Expression – lac Operon (negative control with superimposed positive control)

i. Explain the importance of systems to regulate the expression of genes.

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ii. Define the term operon and explain the advantage of gene expression using an operon system.

iii. Explain what is meant by a negative control system and a positive control system and be able to differentiate between the two.

iv. Distinguish between the two types of negative control systems: inducible & repressible and give examples of such systems.

v. Describe and illustrate the structure of the lac operon.vi. List and explain the functions of the structural genes of the lac operon along with the

regulatory sequences involved in controlling expression of the genes.vii. Explain the difference between cis-acting and trans-acting control elements.

viii. Explain in detail how the negative control system of the lac operon functions to regulate expression of the structural genes.

ix. Explain in detail how the positive control system of the lac operon functions to regulate expression of the structural genes.

x. Describe the mutations revealed in the Jacob & Monod mutational analysis experiments that affect expression of the lac operon structural genes and explain the resulting effects of these mutations.

Regulation of Prokaryotic Gene Expression – trp operon (negative control with superimposed attenuation)

i. Describe and illustrate the structure of the trp operon.ii. Identify and explain the functions of the structural genes of the trp operon along with

the regulatory sequences involved in controlling expression of the genes.iii. Explain in detail how the negative control system of the trp operon functions to regulate

expression of the structural genes.iv. Define the term attenuation and explain in detail how it is employed in the regulation of

the trp operon.v. Explain the alternative TRAP mechanism of control of the trp operon in B. subtilis.

Temporal control of genes in bacteriophages

i. Describe and discuss how altering the specificity of RNA polymerase by modification of the sigma factor in the host by the SPO1 phage can result in transcription of the phage genes in a temporal manner.

ii. Describe and discuss how antitermination regulates the transcription of genes of the lambda phage in a temporal manner.

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Regulation of genes in eukaryotes: facultative and condensed chromatin, position effects, methylation

i. Discuss how RNA polymerase cannot bind to chromatin in tightly coiled heterochromatic regions in eukaryotic genomes resulting in non-transcription of genes in that region.

ii. Discuss how facultative heterochromatin is regulated to provide environmental flexibility.

iii. Discuss how transcription of genes in the euchromatin can be affected by their proximity to the heterochromatic regions.

iv. Discuss how methylation of genes prevents their transcription and this methylation can be heritable (epigenetics).

Phenotypic Function of DNA - Translation

i. Define the term translation as it relates to the Central dogma of biology.ii. Describe the basic structure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic ribosomes and outline their

role in the process of translation.iii. Describe the structure & function of tRNA molecules in the process of translation and

outline the steps involved in the aminoacyl tRNA synthetase catalyzed reaction for ‘charging’ tRNA molecules.

iv. Define the terms codon & anti-codon.v. Define the Shine-Dalgarno consensus sequence and explain its importance in the

initiation of translation of prokaryotic mRNA.vi. Explain in detail the steps involved in the process of translation (initiation, elongation &

termination).vii. Discuss how post translation modfications such as clipping, targeting proteins to

organelles, protein folding, glycosylation and phosphorylation are important for functionality of the translated protein.

The genetic code

i. Describe the nature of the genetic code and explain what is meant by the following features: triplet code, non-overlapping code, commaless/gapless code, degenerate code & universal code.

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ii. Describe the experiments that provided evidence to demonstrate the triplet nature of the genetic code.

iii. Explain how the genetic code was cracked and describe the experiments involved in determining the code.

iv. Explain how Crick’s Wobble hypothesis and iso-accepting species of tRNA enable the cell system to cope with the degeneracy of the genetic code.

Assignments/ Practical Exercises

1. Practical: Karyotyping

By the end of this laboratory exercise students should be able to:

i. Demonstrate knowledge of the steps involved in generating karyotypes.ii. Compare abnormal human karyotypes with normal karyotypes with an aim to

identifying chromosomal abnormalities.iii. Demonstrate knowledge of the different chromosomal shapes and sizes in the human

genome.iv. Identify specific chromosomes in the human genome based on their characteristic

features.

2. Investigating the meiotic consequences of a crossover within inversion loops in inversion heterozygotes


i. Demonstrate knowledge of how chromosomes for an inversion heterozygote pair up during meiosis.

ii. Follow the progress of these chromosomes through meiosis-1 and meiosis-2 after crossing over occurs within the inversion loop.

iii. Determine the meiotic products generated and assess their viability.

iv. Differentiate between the consequences of crossing over within the inversion loop for pericentric and paracentric inversions.

3. Deducing ploidy levels in Musa spp.


i. Accurately take various size measurements of microscopic components of leaf tissue in Musa spp.

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ii. Compare various characteristics of three Musa spp. plants and subsequently deduce ploidy levels (diploid, triploid or tetraploid).

4. Bacterial Conjugation


i. Carry out mating experiments between donor and recipient strains.ii. Select for and identify recombinant recipient cells on specific growth media.

5. Bacterial Transformation


i. Demonstrate knowledge of inducing competency in bacterial cells.ii. Perform the steps involved for successful uptake of DNA from surrounding medium into

bacterial cells.iii. Select for and identify transformants on specific growth media.iv. Determine transformation efficiencies.v. State the factors which influence transformation efficiency.

6. Group Presentations


i. Effectively present complex scientific concepts to an audience in a coherent manner.ii. Develop and practice good communication technique.

iii. Develop confidence in addressing questions orally in an open setting.

Course Calendar

Week Lecture subjects Assignments

1Topic 1:

Cyto-genetics

Chromosome primary & secondary structure; chromosome ultra structure- Chromatin

Chromosomal Macromutation: Deletion

Lab #1: Karyotyping & Drosophila Polytene Chromosomes

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Week Lecture subjects AssignmentsChromosomal Macromutation: Duplication

2 Chromosomal Macromutation: Inversion

Chromosomal Macromutation: Translocation 1

Chromosomal Macromutation: Translocation 2

3 Polyploidy 1

Polyploidy 2

Epigenetics & Chromatin Dynamics 1

Lab #2: Investigating the meiotic consequences of a crossover within inversion loops in inversion heterozygotes

4 Epigenetics & Chromatin Dynamics 2

Homeotic genes

In-course Examination #1

5Topic 2:

Pro-karyotic genetics

Genetic Transfer in Bacteria: Conjugation 1



Lab #3: Deducing ploidy levels in Musa spp.

6 Genetic transfer in Bacteria: Transduction

Genetic transfer in Bacteria: Transformation

Prokaryotic genetics: Transposition

7 Gene Fine Structure Analysis in Bacteria: Recombination Testing & Complementation Testing

Lab #4: Bacterial Transformation

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Week Lecture subjects AssignmentsGene Fine Structure Analysis - bacteriophages

In-course Examination # 2

8Topic 3:

Molecular genetics

Molecular organization of the eukaryotic genome 1

Molecular organization of the eukaryotic genome 2

Genomics

9 DNA Structure & Models of Replication 1

DNA Structure & Models of Replication continues 2

DNA Structure & Models of Replication continues 3

Lab #5: Bacterial Conjugation

10 Polymerase chain reaction

Phenotypic function of DNA: Transcription 1

Phenotypic function of DNA: Transcription 2

11 Regulation of Prokaryotic Gene Expression: lac Operon

Regulation of Prokaryotic Gene Expression: - trp Operon

Other forms of regulation in bacteriophages and eukaryotes

Lab #6: Group Presentations

12 Translation

The genetic code

In-course Examination #3

13 Tutorial (1h)

Tutorial (1h)

Tutorial (1h)

NONE

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Course Assessment

Assessment WeightingIn-course Examination #1 7%In-course Examination #2 7%In-course Examination #3 8%Laboratory reports 18%Final Examination 60%Total 100%

Recommended Texts1. Brooker, Robert J. Genetics: Analysis & Principles 3rd Edition McGraw Hill Higher Education

2008. ISBN: 97800712876472. Snustad, D. Peter & Simmons, Michael J. Principles of Genetics 5th Edition John Wiley & Sons

Inc. 2009. ISBN: 97804703882593. Genetics: A Conceptual Approach (Benjamin A. Pierce)4. Principles of Genetics 7th Edition (Robert H. Tamarin)5. Genes VIII (Benjamin Lewin)6. Molecular Cell Biology (Lodish et al.)7. Molecular Biology of The Cell (Alberts et al.)

March 2012

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