| Study programme competencies |
| Code | Study programme competences |
| A5 | Analizar e caracterizar mostras de orixe humana. |
| A11 | Identificar e analizar material de orixe biolóxica e as súas anomalías. |
| A12 | Manipular material xenético, realizar análises xenéticas e levar a cabo asesoramento xenético. |
| A15 | Deseñar e aplicar procesos biotecnológicos. |
| A29 | Impartir coñecementos de Bioloxía. |
| A30 | Manexar adecuadamente instrumentación científica. |
| A31 | Desenvolverse con seguridade nun laboratorio. |
| B1 | Aprender a aprender. |
| B2 | Resolver problemas de forma efectiva. |
| B3 | Aplicar un pensamento crítico, lóxico e creativo. |
| B5 | Traballar en colaboración. |
| B7 | Comunicarse de maneira efectiva nunha contorna de traballo. |
| Learning aims | |||
| Learning outcomes | Study programme competences | ||
| General knowledge and understanding of the molecular basis of the organization, expression, variation and manipulation of genetic material | A11 A12 A15 A29 |
B1 B2 B3 B5 B7 |
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| Knowledge of the basic methodologies used in Molecular Genetics. | A5 A11 A12 A15 A29 A30 A31 |
B1 B2 B3 B5 |
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| Ability to use sources of information of interest in Molecular Genetics. | A5 A11 A12 A15 A29 |
B1 B2 B3 |
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| Ability to interpret and transmit information of Molecular Genetics | A29 |
B1 B2 B3 B5 B7 |
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| Contents |
| Topic | Sub-topic |
| 1.- GENOME ORGANIZATION | C-value paradox. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes. Single-copy and repetitive DNA sequences. Gene families. Centromeres. Telomeres. Organelle genomes. |
| 2.- DNA REPLICATION | Semiconservative DNA replication: the Meselson and Stahl experiment. Modes of replication. Enzymology of the replication. DNA replication in Escherichia coli. DNA replication in eukaryotes. Telomere synthesis. Replication of mithocondrial and cloroplast DNA. |
| 3.- SYNTHESIS AND PROCESSING OF RNA | Clases of RNA. RNA polymerases. Promoters and transcriptional appartatus. Transcription in prokaryotes and eukaryotes: initiation, elongation and termination. Interrupted genes: exons and introns. Processing of eukaryotic pre-mRNA. Synthesis and processing of pre-rRNA. Synthesis and processing of pre-tRNA. RNA edition. Revision of gene concept. |
| 4.- TRANSLATION | The one gene-one enzyme hypothesis. The genetic code: characteristics and experiments to decipher the code. Initiation of translation. Elongation of the polypeptide chain. Termination of translation. Messenger RNA surveillance. |
| 5.- MUTATION AND DNA REPAIR | Molecular basis of spontaneous mutations: replication errors, unequal crossing over, spontaneous chemical changes. Molecular basis of induced mutations: chemical and physical agents. Repair mechanisms: direct reversal of damaged DNA, excision repair, postreplication repair, error-prone repair, repair of double-strand breaks. |
| 6.- MOLECULAR MECHANISM OF GENETIC RECOMBINATION |
The role of genetic recombination. Gene conversion. Models of homologous recombination: Holliday model and double-strand break model. Enzymes required for recombination. Site-specific recombination. Inmunoglobulin genes assemble by recombination. |
| 7.- TRANSPOSABLE GENETIC ELEMENTS | Transposable elements in prokaryotes: insertion sequences, composite transposons and noncomposite transposons. Replicative and non replicative transposition. Transposable elements in eukaryotes: transposons and retrotransposon. Evolutionary significance of transposable elements. |
| 8.- RECOMBINANT DNA TECHNOLOGY | Restriction enzymes. Cloning vectors. DNA libraries: construction and screening. Southern and northern blotting. Restriction maps. Sequencing. PCR. Site-directed mutagenesis. |
| 9.- APPLICATIONS OF RECOMBINANT DNA TECHNOLOGY |
Expression of eukaryotic genes in E. coli. DNA transfer to eukaryotic cells. Transgenic animals. Transgenic plants. Gene therapy. Molecular markers. DNA fingerprinting. Genetic diagnosis. Synthetic genomes. |
| 10.- GENOMICS |
Physical and genetic mapping. Whole genome sequencing. Genome annotation. DNA microarrays. Reverse Genetics. Comparative genomics. Metagenomics. |
| 11.- REGULATION OF GENE EXPRESSION IN BACTERIA |
Jacob and Monod’s operon model for the regulation of lac genes in E. coli. Positive control of the lac operon. The arabinose operon of E. coli: positive and negative control. The triptophan operon of E. coli: negative control and attenuation. Control by RNA molecules. |
| 12.- REGULATION OF GENE EXPRESSION IN EUKARYOTES |
Changes in chromatin structure. DNA metilation. Transcriptional control. RNA processing control. Control of mRNA stability. Control at the level of translation. RNA interference. Epigenetics. |
| 13.- GENETIC CONTROL OF DEVELOPMENT |
Basic events of development. Drosophila development stages. Maternal-effect, segmentation and homeotic genes in Drososphila. Homeobox genes in other organisms. General aspects of Caenorhabditis elegans development. Genetic control of flower development in Arabidopsis. |
| PRACTICE 1: DNA EXTRACTION | DNA extraction from Drosophila melanogaster and human cells. Agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA. DNA quantification. |
| PRACTICE 2: PCR | PCR amplification of the locus PV92. Analysis of an insertion polymorphism of Alu sequences |
| PRACTICE 3: DOT-BLOT | Nucleic acids hybridization: detection of microsatellite sequences by dot-blot |
| PRACTICE 4: BIOINFORMATICS. | Database search and comparison of nucleic acid sequences. Primer design. Identification of ORFs. |
| Planning | ||||
| Methodologies / tests | Competencies | Ordinary class hours | Student’s personal work hours | Total hours |
| Guest lecture / keynote speech | A5 A11 A12 A15 B2 B3 B7 | 28 | 42 | 70 |
| Seminar | A5 A11 A12 A15 A29 B1 B2 B3 B5 B7 | 8 | 20 | 28 |
| Laboratory practice | A5 A11 A12 A15 A30 A31 B1 B2 B3 B5 B7 | 15 | 7.5 | 22.5 |
| Supervised projects | A5 A11 A12 A15 A29 B1 B2 B3 B5 B7 | 0 | 21.5 | 21.5 |
| Mixed objective/subjective test | A5 A11 A12 A15 A29 B1 B2 B3 B7 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Personalized attention | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| (*)The information in the planning table is for guidance only and does not take into account the heterogeneity of the students. | ||||
| Methodologies |
| Methodologies | Description |
| Guest lecture / keynote speech | The teacher explains the main contents of each lesson. |
| Seminar | Resolution/discussion of questions and problems realted to the subject. |
| Laboratory practice | The student conducts laboratory experiences following a protocol, under the supervision of the teacher. |
| Supervised projects | Students resolve questions and problems and/or prepare written documents related to some aspects of the subject. This activity is done in groups. |
| Mixed objective/subjective test | Objective test, short answer questions and problem resolution. |
| Personalized attention |
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| Assessment | |||
| Methodologies | Competencies | Description | Qualification |
| Supervised projects | A5 A11 A12 A15 A29 B1 B2 B3 B5 B7 | Assessment will be based on providing correct answers, clarity of explanations and documentary sources used. The score depends on work carried out at individual (10%) and group level (10%). |
20 |
| Mixed objective/subjective test | A5 A11 A12 A15 A29 B1 B2 B3 B7 | The degree of general knowledge and understanding of the subject will be assessed. Consists of two parts. One is related to theoretical content and represents 70% of the score. The other is related to the laboraroty practices and represents 10% of the score. |
80 |
| Assessment comments | |||
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To pass the course, the score must be 5 or higher but with at least a 4 in each part of the test. If the sum of the score of all activities is higher than 5, but the score on one part of the text is lower than 4 then the final score is 4.9 (failing score). It is considered "NP" (non attendance) when less than 30% of the assessed activities were carried out. Preferably, first class honors will be awarded in January among students with a score of 9 or higher. A mid-term exam will be held. A score of 5 or higher will be maintained until July. In July there is the opportunity to retake only the test. The January's score of supervised projects is maintained. |
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| Sources of information |
| Basic |
Klug, W.S., Cummings, M.R., Spencer, C.A (2013). Conceptos de Genética . Pearson/Prentice Hall, Madrid
Griffiths, A.J.F., Wessler, S.R., Suzuki, Lewontin, R.C. Carroll, S.B. (2008). Genética. McGraw-Hill/Interamericana de España, Madrid
Pierce, B.A. (2010). Genética: un enfoque conceptual. Médica Panamericana, Madrid |
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| Complementary |
Lodish, H., Berk, A., Zipursky, S.L., Matsudaira, P., Baltimore, D., Darnell, J. (2002). Biología celular y Molecular (4ª ed) . Médica Panamericana, Madrid
Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K., Walter, P. (2010). Biología Molecular de la célula. Omega, Barcelona
Lewin, B. (2008). Genes IX. McGraw-Hill. México
Benito, C., Espino, F.C. (2013). Genética: conceptos esenciales. Médica Panamericana, Madrid
Brooker, R.J. (2005). Genetics: Analysis and Principles (2nd ed). . McGraw-Hill, Boston, USA
Hartwell, L.H., Hood, L., Goldberg, M.L., Reynols, A.E., Silver, L.M., Veres, R.C. (2008). Genetics: from genes to genomes (3ª ed.) . McGraw-Hill, Boston, USA
Brown, T.A. (2008). Genomas (3ª ed.). Médica Panamericana, Buenos Aires
Russell, P.J. (2010). iGenetics: a molecular approach (3º ed.) . Benjamin Cummings, San Francisco, USA
Perera, J., Tormo, A., García, J.L. (2002). Ingeniería genética. Vol. I: Preparación, análisis, manipulación y clonaje de DNA. Síntesis, Madrid
Perera, J., Tormo, A., García, J.L. 2002b (2002). Ingeniería genética. Vol. II. Expresión de DNA en sistemas heterólogos. Síntesis, Madrid
Krebs, J.E., Goldstein, E.S., Kilpatrick, S.T. (2012). Lewin genes: fundamentos. Médica Panamericana, Madrid
Snustad, D.P., Simmons, M.J. (2006). Principles of Genetics (4ed). John Wiley and Sons, Inc. New York, USA |
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Consult the Moodle platform for additional sources of information |
| Recommendations | |||||
| Subjects that it is recommended to have taken before | |||||
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| Subjects that are recommended to be taken simultaneously |
| Subjects that continue the syllabus | ||
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| Other comments | |
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Recommendations: Attend class and follow the development of the course regularly. Check Moodle and email regularly to obtain the materials and know the schedule of activities. Attend tutorials to resolve any questions or difficulties that may arise. Consult the recommended bibliography. Keep up-to-date with course work. |