Molecular Genetics

Code:

MV124

Acronym:

GM

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Basic Sciences

Instance: 2021/2022 - 2S (of 21-02-2022 to 17-06-2022)

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Molecular Biology
Course/CS Responsible:	Integrated Masters Degree in Veterinary Medicine

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIMV	89	Official Study Plan	1	-	4,5	56	121,5

Teaching language

Portuguese and english
Obs.: As aulas e os exames serão dadas em Português OU Inglês, dependendo dos estudantes.

Objectives

To acquire knowledge about: - the structure and replication of the genetic material and its organization - the organization of genes in prokaryotes and eukaryotes - the information contained in the genome and how it is expressed, transcribed and translated - the different types of RNA molecules that exist - the mechanisms of RNA processing - recombinant DNA techniques - alterations and mutations that can occur in DNA - recombination mechanisms - regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes and eukaryotes - viruses and oncogenes.

Learning outcomes and competences

From the theoretical part of this curricular unit students are expected to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in genetic and biological organization necessary for the correct establishment of the identity of organisms. On the practical part, students are expected to acquire knowledge of molecular biology techniques that enable them to purify genomic and plasmid DNA, to analyse it, to manipulate it, and to introduce plasmid DNA into bacteria.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Introduction 2. Structure and organization of DNA Discovery of the genetic material. Composition of DNA. Structure of DNA. Physical properties of DNA, denaturation and renaturation. Struture of the chromatin. The nuclear matrix and the scaffold models. Types of DNA sequence in the genome. Repeated and satellite sequences. 3. DNA replication The central dogama o molecular biology. Polymerization of DNA. General model for replication. Enzymes and factores. Other types of DNA replication. 4.Transcription Types of RNA. General structure of promoters. Transcription. The preinitiation complex. Initiation, elongation and termination. 5. The genetic code The genetic code, rules of the universal table and organization of codons. Alterations of the genetic code. 6. Translation The concept of Open reading frame. Structure of tRNAs. The model of wobble pairing. Initiation, elongation and termination. 7. Processing of RNAs General model of processing RNAs. Intron and exon sequences. Small nuclear ribonuclear particles. Processamento de RNAs. Intrões e exões. Processing tRNAs, mRNAs, RNA in the mitochondria. RNA editing. 8. DNA recombinant techniques Restriction enzymes. Vectors for cloning. Restriction maps. Radioisotopes and DNA labelling. Genomic, cDNA and expression libraries. Chromosome walking and organizing the genome. DNA sequencing. Southern blot. Northern blot. Western blot. Primer extension. In situ hybridization. Analysis of promoter sequences. Protein DNA interactions. DNA and protein data bases. Generation of transgenic organisms. Conditional expression. 9. Alteration of the DNA Mutations. Structural and point mutations. Induction and spontaneous mutations. Transition and transvection. Frameshift, nonsense, missense. Silence, neutral.  Intragenic and extragenic suppression. DNA repair. Foto-reactivation. Nucleotide excision repair, mismatch repair. Recombination or post-replication repair. SOS genes in bacteria. 10. Recombination Homologous recombination and site specific recombination. 11. Regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes. General model of regulation. Work of Jacob e Monod on lac operon. Repressors and activators. Arabinose and tryptophan operons.  Regulation of termination. The phage lambda as a model for gene regulation 12. Regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes. Levels of regulation and signals involved. General organization of eukaryotic promoters. Experimental analysis of promoters. Transcription factors classes and mode of DNA binding. Examples of regulation during Transcription, processing of, transport, stability and translation of mRNAs. Regulation of Galactose genes in yeast. The Stress response and global organization the b-globin promoter. The role the nuclear matrix in gene regulation, chromatin remodelling and methylation. 13.Virus Classification and genome structure. Replication strategies and retroviruses. Gag, pol and env proteins. The identification of viral oncogenes. 

Mandatory literature

Watson James D. 070; Molecular biology of the gene. ISBN: 978-0-321-50781-5
Krebs Jocelyn E.; Lewin.s Genes X. ISBN: 978-0-7637-7992-4
Russell Peter J.; iGenetics. ISBN: 0-321-31207-4

Complementary Bibliography

Alberts Bruce; Molecular biology of the cell. ISBN: 978-0-8153-4105-5
Quintas et al.; Bioquímica - Organização Molecular da Vida , Lidel, 2008. ISBN: 9789727574315
Videira Arnaldo 340; Engenharia genética. ISBN: 972-757-163-8
Lodish Harvey 070; Molecular cell biology. ISBN: 978-0-7167-7601-7

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical classes: Oral presentation of the themes aided by the projection of slides in power point format. Distribution to students of the pdfs of the slides presented in the classes and the summaries of the classes. Practical classes: Experimental protocols and discussion of the results obtained.

keywords

Health sciences
General programmes > Basic programmes
General programmes > Basic programmes
Natural sciences
Natural sciences > Biological sciences > Biology > Molecular biology

Evaluation Type

Evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	100,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	65,50
Frequência das aulas	56,00
Total:	121,50

Eligibility for exams

3/4 pratical classes: 5 pratical classes.

Calculation formula of final grade

The evaluation comprises a written final test which include both the theoretical and the practical parts. The test will have 80% questions related to the theoretical part and 20% related to the practical part.