Genetics and Molecular Biology

Fundamental concepts of development and its phylogeny: determination and differentiation; regulatory development and mosaic development; development stages; cloning Model organisms: Overview of the genetic control of the development of mice, zebrafish, Xenopus and nematode Caenorabditis elegans; Drosophila melanogaster Analysis of mutations that alter development patterns: maternal effect mutations; mutations gain of function and loss of function Somatic genetic analysis: somatic recombination and compartments; induction of ginandromorphs and maps of fate. Formation of the body axes: maternal genes; the anterior-posterior polarity; the dorsal-ventral polarity. Construction of the body pattern: the genes of segmentation. Segmental identity: homeotic genes. The evolution of homeotic genes. The syndromes related to homeotic changes in humans. Cellular memory: the genes of the Polycomb group; the genes of the trithorax group. Syndromes and diseases related to alterations of memory genes in humans Determination of sex: specification of the somatic line; germ line specification; specification of sexual behavior. Dosage compensation: in Drosophila, in mammals and nematodes Genetic control of eye development and evolution of the eye and photoreceptors. The biological clock, the circadian rhythms and the coevolution of photoreceptors and circadian rhythms. Diseases related to circadian rhythms Genetic control of the development of the heart and evolution of the cardiac tube. Genetic control of the tubular organs: tube morphogenesis, signal systems, cell migration and organogenesis; evolution of the circulatory system. The elements that are transposable in the evolution of development the lessons are organized as: - basic concepts of development: 2 hours - genetic methodologies for the study of development: 12 hours - genetic control of development: 18 hours - evolutionary genetic control of development: 16 hours

It is essential to have passed the exams of Genetics, Molecular Biology, Developmental Biology In particular, it is necessary to know the basic concepts of Genetics, i.e. the laws of heredity, the concept of gene, gene and chromosomal mutations, the structure of DNA, the fundamental characteristics of the development of multicellular organisms, the general concepts of embryology

Gilbert. Developmental Biology. Zanichelli for the part of the basic concepts of Developmental Biology Pimpinelli. Genetica. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana Alternatively any text of Genetics

The 48 hours of lectures will be held in the classroom with the use of Powerpoint files on the program topics

Class attendance is not mandatory.

The oral exam consists in exposing a topic to evaluate the communication skills of synthesis and analysis; in answering one or more questions chosen by the teacher to assess the level of depth of the study on the topics of the program (40%), to evaluate the student's ability to make connections (20%), organize a speech in a logical way (20%) and use appropriate language (20%). The questions refer to the topics presented during the lessons. The evaluation is expressed in thirtieths (minimum mark 18/30, maximum mark 30/30 with honors). To pass the exam with an assessment of 30/30 it is necessary to answer all the questions in an exact, logical, in-depth way and with language properties, demonstrating reasoning skills and being able to contextualize concepts and examples.

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The 48 hours of lectures will be held in the classroom with the use of Powerpoint files on the program topics