Basic genetics

obligatory courses

Classroom

The course consists of three sections. The first concerns cytology (organization, expression and inheritance of genetic material). The second deals with the basics of genetics, with particular emphasis on the organization and variability of genetic material and the expression of genetic information. The third section presents genomes of different types in evolutionary context. The subject includes 30 hours of lectures and 60 hours of exercises.

Classes:

I. Cell biology

1. Meiosis during spermatogenesis and oogenesis

2. Mitosis

II. Genetics

1. Basics of classical genetics

2. DNA as genetic material; Mutations;

3. Genetic code

4. Structure and expression of prokaryotic and eukaryotic genes

5. Selected issues of human genetics

III. Molecular methods in environmental research

1. DNA isolation

2. DNA electrophoresis; Polymerase chain reaction (PCR);

3. Sanger sequencing

4. Population genetics (computer analysis)

5. Computer analysis of nucleotide sequences, part 1

6. Computer analysis of nucleotide sequences, part 2

7. Biological molecules databases

Lectures:

I. Cell biology

1. The origin of cell, comparison of a prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells

2. Nucleus

3. The cell cycle

4. Meiosis, gametes and germ cells

II. Basic genetics

1. Organization of pro- and eukaryotic genomes; Structure of genes; Operons;

2. Expression of genetic information in pro- and eukaryotes

3. Regulation of gene expression in pro- and eukaryotes

4. Human genetics

III. Genomes

1. Evolution at the molecular level

2. Genomes of viruses

3. Genomes of bacteria and archeons

4. Nuclear genomes

5. Mitochondrial genomes

6. Plastid genomes

7. Mobile genetic elements

Literatura

Ekologia molekularna. Joanna R. Freeland. PWN 2008.

Genomy. T. A. Brown. PWN 2012

Genetyka. Ilustrowany przewodnik. Eberhard Passarge Wydawnictwo Lekarskie PZWL. 2004

Genetyka człowieka. Rozwiązywanie problemów medycznych. B.R. Korf, 2003.

Podstawy biologii komórki. B. Alberts i wsp., PWN, Warszawa 1999

Knowledge (knows, understands):

- knows the structure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells (K_W01);

- knows the structure of the cell nucleus (K_W01);

- knows and understands the chromatin organization and molecular mechanisms responsible for its functioning (K_W01);

- understands the molecular mechanisms regulating the cell cycle (K_W01);

- understands the difference between mitotic and meiotic division (K_W01);

- understands importance of mitosis and meiosis (K_W01);

- knows the basics of genetics and molecular biology (K_W01);

- knows the basic terminology used in genetics and molecular biology (K_W02, K_W06);

- knows the mechanisms of evolution at the molecular level (K_W01);

- knows the methods of molecular biology used in environmental research (K_W01, K_W06).

Skills (can):

- can recognize and explain the phenomena related to the organization and expression of genetic information (K_U04, K_U09);

- can independently study the recommended literature and use the Internet resources (K_U05, K_U013);

- can choose molecular biology methods that allow for the identification of an organism and estimation of genetic variation (K_U02, K_U010);

- can use the tools for searching databases of nucleotide and amino acid sequences (K_U05).

Social competences (is ready to):

- is ready to expand own knowledge and popularize the importance of molecular biology methods in environmental research and in environmental protection (K_K02).

Classes - evaluation criteria: student should not have been absent more than twice. The final mark will be based on the sum of points in the written test.

The course will be evaluated based on a written examination (positive evaluation of exercises is needed before the exam).

None