General Genetics
Description
The aim of this course is to study the principles and major concepts in organisms’ heredity and variability. This course starts from analyzing the principles of Mendelian segregation and heredity, and then goes to understanding of genes interactions and the origin of variability of traits in nature. The first half of the course will focus on the basic principles of classical (Mendelian) genetics, while the second half of the course will deal with the modern discoveries of molecular biology and their applications in today's world.
Aim of the course
The main goal of the course is to acquaint students with the basics of genetics, to provide knowledge about the organization of genetic information in different organisms, its transmission from generation to generation at the molecular, cell and organism level, variability and its importance in the evolution of the living world.
Prerequisites
General Biology, Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry
Course content
1. The science of genetics and its importance in the modern world. History of genetics science and main directions of research.
2. Independent character and inheritance of the genes that determine them
3. Allelic gene interactions; dominance and other forms of allelic interaction; blood group genetics.
4. Interaction of non-allelic genes: complementary interaction, epistasis, modifier genes, unambiguous genes.
5. Polymerization and polygenes; pleotropy; penetrativeness, expressiveness; reaction rate.
6. Basics of cytogenetics; mitosis and meiosis; the problem is the genetic control of division cycles.
7. Gene adhesion and crossover; genetic mapping.
8. Karyotype; chromosome diversity; chromosomal sex determination.
9. Human marking inheritance and hereditary diseases.
10. DNA - carrier of genetic information; structure and functions of DNA and RNA molecules; genetic code; the internal structure of the gene.
11. Human genome; organization of gene size and internal diversity; nongenic repetitive sequences; HUGO.
12. Central molecular biology dogma: genomes – transcriptomes – proteomes; DNA replication and transcription in prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
13. Mutational theory. Mutation research methods. Diversity of mutations and mutagens; DNA damage repair.
14. Genetic engineering and its application in medicine and agriculture
15. Cloning of mammals: history, goals and methods; cloning efficiency. 16. Features of the genome of somatic cells; epigenetics and heredity; genome imprinting.
1. Application of Mendel's laws; tasks of mono-, di- and polyhybrid crossing.
2. Non-allelic gene interaction problems and their solution
3. Solving problems with lethal genes
4. Solving problems with contiguous genes
5. Application of crossover for the creation of chromosomal gene sheets.
6. Cytological preparations of plant chromosomes: preparation and analysis.
7. Identification of mitosis phases in cytological preparations
8. Cytological preparations of polytene chromosomes: preparation and analysis.
9. Research and identification of human chromosomes; genealogical analysis.
10. Solving problems in molecular biology.
Assesment Criteria
Assessment of students' knowledge is performed by a cumulative system and consists of 3 components: mid-term assessment, assessment of laboratory work performance and exam. Interim assessment and exam are written. The exam is assessed only after completing independent tasks and laboratory work and paying for them in full. The level of knowledge is determined according to the evaluation criteria of achievements and is expressed in the point corresponding to the achievements in the ten-point system.
