Genetic Analysis of Biodiversity
Academic Year 2023/2024 - Teacher: Giancarlo RAPPAZZOExpected Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: Understanding the appropriate experimental approaches for the study of genetic diversity.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: Understand in a general sense and apply in specific cases the concept of molecular evolution through the use of genetic markers and the investigation of genes and/or gene families.
Ability to independently use the knowledge acquired and evaluate the results obtained: Autonomy of judgement. Ability to evaluate the use of the most appropriate genetic approach for a specific study. Ability to interpret the results of genetic analysis.
Communication ability: Ability to explain the knowledge acquired with clarity and correct language and with scientific taste. Acquiring relational skills that allow the carrying out of multidisciplinary studies in collaboration.
Learning ability: Adaptation and improvement of logical and synthesis skills to the topics covered. Ability to use scientific literature to acquire new knowledge in the sector for the purpose of improving professional abilities.
Course Structure
Presentation of the topics starting from the known or most relevant experimental data.
Required Prerequisites
Attendance of Lessons
Detailed Course Content
Textbook Information
John Maynard Smith, Evolutionary Genetics, Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, ISBN-10: 0198502311
Scientific papers from the scientific literature provided by the teacher; Web pages provided by the teacher or found by the student through autonomous inquiry
Author | Title | Publisher | Year | ISBN |
---|---|---|---|---|
John Maynard Smith | Evolutionary Genetics | Oxford University Press | 2nd edition | ISBN-10: 0198502311 |
Richard Frankham, Jonathan D Ballou, David A Briscoe | Fondamenti di genetica della conservazione | Zanichelli | 2006 | ISBN-10: 8808170187 |
Course Planning
Subjects | Text References | |
---|---|---|
1 | DNA as a genetic material. Chemical and information stability. Working with DNA in the laboratory. Useful enzymes and electrophoretic techniques. | slides |
2 | Mutations: concept, frequency, biological and evolutionary relevance. How mutations spread: selection, genetic drift, gene flow. | slides and scientific papers |
3 | Point mutations or SNPs: molecular detection methods. PCR and sequencing; PCR-RFLP; Aso; Snapshot; NGS. | slides |
4 | Association between loci on the chromosome. Polymorphisms as genetic markers; the construction of genetic maps and physical maps (hints). | slides |
5 | Polymorphisms, aplotypes, linkage balances and linkage argumentibrium. The chromosome as patchwork. Reconstruction of human evolution from genetic data. | slides |
6 | The databases of biomolecular sequences. Bioinformatic methods of consultation of databases: blast queries. The alignment between two or more sequences and related evaluations: useful indices. | slides |
7 | Neutralist theory and the molecular clock. Slow evolving loci and fast evolving loci in evolutionary analysis. | slides and scientific papers |
8 | Phylogenetic reconstruction: multiple alignment, genetic distance matrix, algorithms related to distinct evolutionary models (NJ, UPGMA, ME, parsimony). Practical examples. | slides and scientific papers |
9 | BarCoding and biodiversity analysis: the most common loci and their applications in biological problems. | slides and scientific papers |
10 | A source of unexpected variability: genomic imprinting in development and differentiation. | slides and scientific papers |
11 | Differences between animals and plants from the point of view of genetics | slides and scientific papers |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
Evaluation of correspondence between material and methods and results
Discussion of the results
Data analysis