Students will reach a basic knowledge of the main subjects in molecular biology and will learn the main methods with particular attention to recombinant DNA technology. Through specific examples, students will learn the experimental procedures that led to the most relevant discoveries in the field.
Course Prerequisites
Passing the Genetics exam is required. A good knowledge of basic Biochemistry is also required.
Teaching Methods
The course comprises lectures during which the interaction between students and teacher is stimulated by questions of the teacher. At the end of each lecture the teacher answers to student questions. The slides shown during classes are distributed to the students through KIRO.
Assessment Methods
Written exam with open questions and multiple choice questions. During the course a test in progress is carried out. In addition, students are required to fill anonymous questionnaires to test their preparation.
Texts
=- Amaldi F, Benedetti P, Pesole G, Plevani P. Biologia Molecolare, seconda edizione Casa Editrice Ambrosiana - Cooper GM, Hausmann RE La cellula un approccio molecolare, terza edizione italiana Piccin - Lewin B, Krebs JE, Goldstein E, Kulpatrick ST Il gene, seconda edizione italiana compatta Zanichelli
Contents
Structure of nucleic acids. DNA replication: general mechanism, proteins involved in replication of procaryotes and eukaryotes, replication origins, telomeres and telomerase. Recombinant DNA technology: restriction endonucleases, molecular cloning (vectors, libraries, examples of cloning strategies), DNA sequencing, PCR, site-specific mutagenesis. Transcription and regulation of gene expression in bacteria and in eukaryotes, trascription factors, maturation of mRNA in eukaryotes, alternative splicing, chromatin organization and gene expression. DNA damage, mutation and DNA repair: direct damage reversal, excision repair, mismatch repair, double strand break repair. Recombination: homologous, site-specific, illegittimate. Transposition: DNA transposons, retrotransposons, role of transposons in evolution. Genome organization. Molecular biology of cancer cells; mutations and cancer, oncogenes, mechanisms of oncogene activation, onco-suppressor genes, sporadic and hereditary tumours, applications of molecular biology to prevention, diagnosis and cure of cancer.
