Genetics

Objectives

1. Recognize Genetics as a priority area of current science.

2. Recognize DNA as an informational molecule and synthesizing the mechanisms implied in the replication and transcription of DNA, as well as in protein synthesis.

3. Characterize the major types of genetic mutations and identify the basic mechanisms of DNA repair.

4. Understand the importance of mitosis and meiosis in ontogenetic terms, maintenance and variability of the species.

5. Characterize the normal human karyotype.

6. Identify numerical and structural chromosomal abnormalities; understand the processes at its base.

7. Describe the phenomena underlying sex determination and differentiation.

8. Recognize patterns of Mendelian heredity and interpret the mechanisms of hereditary transmission.

9. Recognize and characterize exception situations to Mendelism.

10. Identify the main factors of evolution, recognizing and discussing their impact on the equilibrium model of Hardy-Weinberg.

Program

The syllabus of the course is divided into themes to develop one or more classes.

Theoretical component:

1. History and development of genetics.

2. Cellular and molecular basis of heredity

3. Origin of mutation and repair mechanisms.

4 Cell Division: Mitosis and meiosis.

5 Chromosomes: normal human karyotype; numerical and structural chromosomal abnormalities. Examples of conditions associated with chromosomal abnormalities.

6. Differentiation and sex determination.

7. Types of heredity.

8. Population Genetics

Practical component:

1 Exercises and resolution of issues related to:

1.1. Cellular and molecular basis of heredity.

1.2. Cell division: mitosis and meiosis.

2. Exercises and resolving issues about chromosomes. Construction and analysis of karyotypes.

3. Exercises of mendelian genetics.

4. Exercises and analysis of autosomal and sex-linked inheritance patterns.

5. Exercises of linkage.

6. Exercises of population genetics.

Teaching Methodologies

The teaching methodology comprises lectures and practical classes. The lectures are expository character with computerized audiovisual media and dialogued, encouraged active participation of students. The classes will stimulate and develop the students with the capacity of reasoning and analysis of the fundamental concepts of heredity, molecular genetics, human genetics, mendelian genetics and population genetics, referring to the themes of the syllabus. Practical classes will provide the students with exercises of genetics and will be presented, discussed examples of the application of genetics in research and heredity. In the first lesson students will be informed about bibliography appropriate and how to make a research on the topics.

Bibliography

Griffiths A.J.F., Wessler S., Lewontin R. et al., 2009. Introdução à Genética, 9ª ed., Guanabara Koogan, Rio de Janeiro.

Hartl D. & Jones E. W., 2009. Genetics. Analysis of genes and genomes, 9ª ed., Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Boston.

King R. C. & Standsfield W. D. 1997. A dictionary of Genetics, 5ª ed., Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Klug W.S., Cummings M.R., Spencer C.A. & Palladino M.A. 2009. Concepts of Genetics, 9ª ed., Pearson Benjamin Cummings, San Francisco.

Passarge E., 2001. Color Atlas of Genetics, 2ª ed., Thieme, New York.

Regateiro F. J., 2003. Manual de Genética Médica. Imprensa da Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra.

Watson J.D., Baker T.A., Bell S.P. & Gann A. 2008. Molecular Biology of the Gene, 5ª ed., Pearson Benjamin Cummings.