This is a basic course that presents the fundamentals of the science of Genetics.
Its aim is to introduce students to the basic principles of Genetics, while also reporting to the theory and techniques of genetic analysis.
Lastly, the course’s aim is the understanding of the methodology of solving Genetics problems.
After successfully completing this course, students will:
- Have acquired knowledge on the functions and interactions of genes
- Have acquired competencies in the techniques of Mendelian analysis
- Be able to interpret the outcomes of crosses between monohybrids, dihybrids and multihybrids and define in detail the genotypes and phenotypes of all individuals.
- Be able to calculate χ2 to decide whether observations of progenies ratios in particular crosses deviate from expectations purely on the basis of chance.
- Be able to explain the results of dihybrid crosses and define in full detail the genotype and phenotype of all individuals intergenerational and intragenerational.
- Be able to test experimental results in dihybrids crosses under different regimes of dominance and epistasis and use the χ2 test to reject or not a precise null hypothesis.
- Have become familiar with the ways in which the environment affects the manifestation of the phenotype, the norm of reaction of a genotype, genotype-environment interactions, twin studies, and their applications.
- Be able to calculate the estimated distance between linked genes based on outcomes for crosses involving these genes.
- Be able to explain the outcomes of crosses between dihybrids for linked genes and define in detail the genotypic and phenotypic ratios of progenies in all generations.
- Be able to perform a three – point testcross and draw a linkage map of the linked – genes, showing the order and the distance in map units.
- Have familiarized themselves with the cell cycle, mitosis, meiosis.
- Understand the mechanisms of sex determination in animals.
- Learn about the structure of Υ chromosome and understand the importance of the SRY gene in the development of testis in mammals, while also interpret what causes sex reversal.
- Learn about the structure of X chromosome and understand the importance of X-inactivation for the dose compensation through epigenetic mechanisms.
- Understand the sex-linked inheritance and distinguish it from sex-influenced and sex-limited inheritance.
- Learn about the types of gene mutations, how they are caused, and interpret their effects in protein structure and function as well as in diseases.
- Know the types of chromosome mutations, such as deletions, duplications, inversions, translocations, and understand how they develop and their effect in individuals and their gametes.
- Have understood how to use plant monosomic lines for a gene and, through appropriate crosses, identify the chromosome that carries the gene.
- Have gained knowledge about extra-nuclear inheritance, the theory of endosymbiosis, the molecular genetics of mitochondria and chloroplasts, and human diseases associated with mutations in mitochondrial DNA
- Have developed their ability to collaborate with other students to solve complex Genetics problems.