Genetics and Molecular Biology

Objectives

1. Understand the structure and organization of chromatin and genome

2. Know the mechanisms of regulation and control of the genome, gene expression

3. Understand the mechanisms of gene regulation with the associated structural and numerical changes.

Understand the role of fusion proteins

4. Understand the histone code and epigenetic modifications

5. Understand the failure of cycle control systems and signal transduction control

6. Understand the function of tumor suppressor genes

7. Understand the changes in the intracellular signaling pathways, growth factors and their receptors

8. Understand the genome structure and its relationship to expression proteomics and its physiological consequences

9. Understand the various techniques of genetic analysis

Program

1. Introduction to Molecular Biology - The purpose of Genetics and Molecular Biology (GBM)

2. Organization and structure of the human genome

3. Study of the mechanisms of epigenetic regulation

4. Genetic Bases of Cancer: the regulation of the gene expression. Types of Mutations

Changes that attach or remove functions

Oncogenes and Proto-oncogenes

Inherited mutations of tumor suppressor genes

Changes in signaling pathways of the cell cycle control

Changes in growth promoting proteins

5. Tumor Cells and Cancer Appearance

Properties and changes in gene function. Metastases

Cancer stem cells

Hypoxia and Angiogenesis

6. Main techniques in molecular biology

7. Pratical sessions in molecular biology.

Extraction methods for genomic DNA and plasmids

DNA analysis, restriction analysis of plasmids.

Teaching Methodologies

Interactive methodology, combined with the analysis and discussion of integrative themes of the theoretical and practical concepts

On each of the program's topics will be provided a presentation in PPT and the bibliography necessary for the interpretation of topic

Students are encouraged to participate in class, giving the questions and discussing with each other (and the teacher) the topics

In the laboratory classes, the students explore and execute protocols for the extraction and analysis of DNA.

Bibliography

Molecular Cell Biology. Lodish, Berk, Kaiser, Krieger, Scott, Bretscher, Ploegh e Matsudaira. 6ª edição (2004). W. H. Freeman and Company. Capítulos 4, 23.

Molecular Biology of the Cell. Alberts, Johnson, Lewis, Raff, Roberts e Walter. 4ª edição (2002). Garland Science. Capítulos 5, 6, 23.

Biologie Moléculaire. Maftah e Julien. 2ª edição (2003)Dunod, Paris

Biologia Molecular e Celular. Stansfield, Colomé e Cano. (2000). Biologia Molecular e Celular, McGrawhill, Lisboa

Gene Cloning, an introduction. T.A. Brown. 6ª edição (2006). UMIST, Manchester

Essential Molecular Biology, A practical approach, (Volume I e II). T.A. Brown (2006 e 2008). IRL Press, OUP, Oxford.

Hiperligações:

• www.biocarta.com

• www.pathwaycentral.qiagen.com

• http://www.nature.com/