Biology

GENERAL SKILLS The course concerns the structural and functional organization of the interphasic chromatin, of the metaphasic and meiotic chromosomes and the study of the mechanisms of mutagenesis. The course requires the knowledge of genetics, especially the part concerning the behavior of chromosomes in meiosis and mitosis, the chromosomal and genic mutations, which will however be briefly "reviewed" in class. The main objective of the course is to provide students with an updated knowledge on the genome organization in interphasic chromatin and in metaphase chromosomes, on the interconnections between structural and functional organization of chromatin and on the main methodologies necessary to study, analyze and recognize a normal human karyotype from a karyotype with chromosomal aberrations, and any associated pathologies. To make known and underline the importance of in-depth studies on the main physical and chemical mutagens of the environment, to analyze the damage on somatic and germ cells, to know and select the appropriate tests in order to provide and to acquire students the ability of a scientifically accurate assessment of the risks, for humans and for the environment, of substances present or they could be released into the environment. Furthermore, activities that contribute to the development of autonomous skills to deepen and criticize the acquired knowledge will take place, so that the students will be able to transmit them and continue independently in their study. SPECIFIC SKILLS A) Knowledge and understanding - Knowledge and understanding the components and mechanisms that lead the interphasic chromatin to organize in metaphasic or meiotic chromosome and the role of specialized structures of linear chromosomes, such as centromere and telomeres and of fundamental genomic regions such as the nucleolar organizer. - Knowledge and understanding on the main check-point and repair mechanisms concerning DNA single and double strand breaks. - Knowledge and understanding the main methods of study of classical and molecular cytogenetics and the main mutagenic tests to identify any mutagenic effects of substances released or present in the environment. - Knowledge and understanding the main topics concerning physical and chemical mutagens and the appropriate and correct use of specific mutagenic tests. B) Applying knowledge and understanding - know how to use the correct and specific terminology - be able to identify the most suitable tests and methodological procedures aimed at identifying the mutagenic effects on the genome and on cells in general - be able to identify the correct methodological procedures to recognize chromosomal aberrations and the consequences in meiosis. C) Making judgments - critical judgment skills, through the study of the progress of knowledge in cytogenetics and mutagenesis and the detailed analysis of some fundamental experiments - learn by ask themselves questions for elaboration and deepening the knowledge learned D) Communication skills - know how to communicate what has been learned during the oral examination E) Learning skills - learning and using the specific terminology correctly - be able to logically connect the acquired knowledge - be able to identify and communicate the