Catalogo dei Corsi di studio

Main teaching objectives
The course provides students with a basic knowledge of Genetics aimed at understanding the rules of inheritance, their molecular bases, their main applications and their implications for evolution. In addition, the course will allow students to understand how genetic information is encoded at the DNA level and how the biochemical processes of the cell translate genetic information into a phenotype. The course aims to achieve these objectives through an analysis of the experimental evidences and their interpretation.
Moreover, the course introduces the students to the -omic sciences (particularly to genomics), their application and the related technology. The main objective is to introduce the modern concept of large-scale genetic analysis, which involves the collection of a very large number of data in a short time, starting from which new and more challenging biological questions can be formulated.




Learning outcomes GENETICS I (Cenci)

A) Knowledge and understanding
-Knowledge and understanding of the characteristics of the genetic material
-Knowledge and understanding of the rules of genetic transmission
-Knowledge and understanding of mutations and their implications
-Basic knowledge on the dynamics of genes in populations as well as on the genetic mechanisms underlying evolution

B) Applying knowledge and understanding
- usage of a proper genetic terminology
- identification of the right procedures to solve genetic problems
- formulation of hypotheses on the hereditary transmission of characters
- constructing and interpreting genetic maps and genealogical trees
- acquisition of conceptual tools for the genetic dissection of biological systems
- utilizing basic biostatistical methodologies for data analysis and hypothesis testing

C) Making judgements
- Acquisition of a critical judgment capacity on solving problems of formal genetics, through the study of the evolution of the gene concept from Mendel to the present day and the detailed analysis of some fundamental experiments.
- Addressing questions for the elaboration and deepening of the gained information

D) Communication skills
- communicating the genetic concepts acquired during the course with appropriate terminology

E) Learning skills
- logically connecting the acquired knowledge
- identification of the most relevant topics of the issues discussed during the course





Learning outcomes GENETICS II (Amicone)

A) Knowledge and understanding
- Knowledge and understanding of genome organization
- Knowledge and understanding of the genetic basis of variability
- Knowledge and understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying the evolution of genomes.
- Knowledge of the main methods of genome analysis and DNA manipulation
- Knowledge of the main methods of transcriptome analysis
- Knowledge of the main methods of proteome analysis

B) Applying knowledge and understanding
-Interpretation of genome sequences (identification of coding and regulatory sequences)
-Interpretation of the transcriptome and the hierarchical clustering of gene expression
-Interpretation of proteome in different experimental and physio-pathological conditions

C) Making judgements
-Acquisition of a critical judgment capacity on current DNA studies and manipulation technologies.
- Addressing questions for the elaboration and deepening of the gained information.

D) Communication skills
- Communicating the genetic concepts acquired during the course with appropriate terminology

E) Learning skills
- Logically connecting the acquired knowledge
- Identification of the most relevant topics of the issues discussed during the course

Programme

The course consists of 3 CFU hours of frontal. Lectures are not mandatory, but strongly recommended.

Topics

Technical and technological approaches for the study of DNA and gene expression (8 hours):
Amplification of DNA in bacteria and by PCR, Realization of genomic, cDNA and EST libreries, Physical mapping of DNA (RFLP and STS), Sanger sequencing and Next Generation Sequencing, Transcriptional Microarray, Proteomics (two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry).

Genome study (10 hours):
The genome projects and the human genome project, Interpreting a genomic sequence (identification of coding and regulatory sequences), Organization of the human genome (coding, regulatory, repeated sequences). Evolution of genomes. Single nucleotide polymorphisms and haplotypes. Attribution of function to genomic sequences. Gene inactivation and hyper-expression techniques. Genetically modified animals.

Mitochondrial genome and hetero / homoplasmy (2 hours)

Dynamic mutations (2 hours)

Cancer genetics (2 hours)

Adopted texts

GENETICA:dall'Analisi Formale alla Genomica- Hartwell, Hood, Goldberg, Reynolds, Silver, Veres. MCGRAWHILL

GENETICA- Pimpinelli- CASA EDITRICE AMBROSIANA

Prerequisites

Knowledge of: -the structure and functions of nucleic acids, -formal genetics, -molecular biology of the main cell functions.

Exam modes

The final exam test is meant to verify the level of knowledge of the concepts acquired during the course and the reasoning skills developed by the student.

The final exam consists of an interview in order to verify the achievement of the objectives in terms of knowledge and skills acquired, as well as communication skills, language property, clarity of exposition and critical ability to solve biological and genetic problems.
The time spent for the oral exam is about 20/30 minutes.