1. Introduction in Genetics - Mendelian analysis: Mendel’s analysis. Monohybrids,
dihybrids and multihybrids crosses. Variations on dominance. Mendelian genetics in
agriculture and humans. Pedigree analysis. Mendelian analysis and definition of
probability. Product and sum rules. The χ2 test.
2. Extension of Mendelian analysis: Multiple alleles. ABO blood group in humans.
Incompatibility alleles in plants. Operational test of allelism. Lethal alleles. Gene
interaction. Epistasis. Complementation test. Three or more gene interaction.
Pleiotropism - Penetrance – Expressivity. Modifier genes. Genetic suppression. Position
effect. Genetic anticipation. Epigenetic inheritance. Paramutation. Parental imprinting.
3. Genotype and Environment: The norm of reaction. Genotype-environment interactions.
Developmental noise. Twin studies.
4. Linkage and chromosome mapping: Chromosome recombination from independent
assortment. Intrachromosomal recombination. Genetic and cytological events
correlation of intrachromosomal recombination. Tetrads analysis and stage of meiosis
during which crossing - over occurs. Linkage of two genes. Genes in coupling or repulsion
phase. Meiotic crossover and recombination is absent in Drosophila males. Linkage of
genes on the X chromosome. Estimation of recombination frequency from dihybrid
crosses. Genetic distance between two genes. Maximum recombinant frequency
between linked genes. Linkage map of three or more genes. Three – point testcross.
Coefficient of coincidence. Coefficient of interference. Estimation of progenies
proportion from linkage map. Mapping function. Sister chromatid exchanges. Intralocus
recombination.
5. Cell cycle. Mitosis. Meiosis. Spermatogenesis. Oogenesis: Cellular structure and genetic
function. Diploid organisms and homologous chromosomes. Mitosis. Meiosis. Gamete
formation, spermatogenesis and oogenesis. Sexual reproduction in diploid organisms.
Chromosome structure in mitosis and meiosis.
6. Sex chromosomes, Sex determination, and sex-linked inheritance: Sex chromosomes.
Sex determination (C elegans, Drosophila, mammals). Mechanism of gene dose
compensation. Syndrome Turner and Klinefelter. Y chromosome, SRY gene in the
development of testis, Sex reversal, holandric genes. Χ chromosome, Χ inactivation,
Epigenetic mechanisms. Sex-linked inheritance, recessive and dominant X-linked. Sexinfluenced inheritance. Sex-limited inheritance.
7. Gene and chromosomal mutations: Molecular basis of mutations. Types of mutations.
Mutagenesis agents. Changes in chromosome structure. Deletions. Duplications.
Inversions. Translocations.
8. Changes in chromosome number: Euploidy. Monoploids. Triploids. Autotetraploids.
Allopolyploids. Aneuploidy. Monosomics. Trisomics.
9. Extranuclear inheritance. Mitochondrial DNA. Mitochondrial diseases. Chloroplast DNA.
Origin of mitochondria and chloroplasts.
Laboratory exercises: Genetic problems on Mendelian genetics for the study of one or
multiple genes, epistasis, genetic linkage and genetic maps, estimation of recombination
frequency from genetic crosses, X-linked genes, gender-affected and gender-restricted
heredity. Predicting the heredity of a trait by studying the results of experimental crosses.
Support predictions with the chi-square (x2) statistical test. Predicting the offspring of a
cross, for a trait with a given type of heredity. Applications in probability calculations.
Experimental design to confirm the results and predictions mentioned above.
Learning outcomes
Bibliography
Concepts of Genetics (11th Edition) ISBN 0321948912, Klug, Cumminngs, Spencer, Palladino 2015
Pearson Education Inc.
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