Molecular genetics

Course Description

COURSE CONTENT

• Scientific discoveries that preceded the development of modern molecular genetics
• Organization of genetic material
• Regulation of gene expression
• DNA replication, stability and variability of genetic material
• DNA damage and molecular repair mechanisms
• Moving genetic elements
• Viruses
• Genetic recombination and horizontal gene transfer
• The regulation of the life cycle of yeast S. cerevisiae

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• explain the procedure and interpret the results of experiments which have laid the foundations of molecular genetics and describe the three-dimensional structure of DNA
• explain mendelian and non-mendelian inheritance and propose solutions the appropriate problem questions
• explain the principle and application and interpret the results of Ames and fluctuation tests and propose solutions for appropriate problem questions
• explain the processes of replication, transcription and translation at the molecular level and interpret selected examples of regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes, viruses and eukaryotes
• name and describe the possible types of DNA damage and state their causes and biological consequences, including mechanisms of damage repair at the molecular level
• explain the effects of various moving genetic elements at the molecular level
• explain the organization of the genome, the life cycle, regulation of gene expression in selected viruses and the processes of horizontal transfer of genes in bacteria
• explain and illustrate homologous genetic recombination models, solve appropriate problem questions and illustrate strategies for targeted modification of the yeast genome
• explain the regulation of the life cycle of S. cerevisiae yeast at the molecular level and evaluate its use in selected scientific studies
• execute the following experiments and interpret the results: Isolate DNA from E. coli, transform E. coli, determine microbial susceptibility to physical mutagenic agents and determine the survival curve, conduct fluctuation test, auxonographic analysis, conjugation, transduction, crossing of yeast and Ames test

To enrol in this course, the following courses must be completed:

• Biology 1
• Microbiology
• Biochemistry 1