Unit MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
- Course
- Agricultural and environmental sciences
- Study-unit Code
- 80504006
- Curriculum
- Biotecnologie
- Teacher
- Alessandro Datti
- Teachers
-
- Alessandro Datti
- Hours
- 54 ore - Alessandro Datti
- CFU
- 6
- Course Regulation
- Coorte 2023
- Offered
- 2024/25
- Learning activities
- Affine/integrativa
- Area
- Attività formative affini o integrative
- Academic discipline
- BIO/10
- Type of study-unit
- Obbligatorio (Required)
- Type of learning activities
- Attività formativa monodisciplinare
- Language of instruction
- ITALIAN
- Contents
This undergraduate program teaches relevant concepts in Molecular Biology, including i) fundamental principles as to how living organisms function at a molecular level; ii) essential aspects of Genomics, Transcriptomics, and Proteomics; iii) recombinant DNA technology; iv) structure and function of DNA and proteins, and the most relevant mechanisms of gene expression; and v) technological and methodological innovation applied to agricultural science. Topics are not presented as standalone matters, rather, are discussed in a dynamic context to show conceptual and practical connections between distinct areas of study. This course is offered to students with a good undergraduate training in both Biochemistry and Genetics. Students are expected to gain necessary knowledge and critical perspectives to successfully tackle more advanced courses in Life Sciences and Biotechnology.- Reference texts
BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE (G. Capranico, E. Martegani, G. Musci, G. Raugei, T. Russo, N. Zambrano, V. Zappavigna) – EdiSES (2021)
FONDAMENTI di BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE (Lizabeth A. Allison) - Zanichelli (2023)
BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE (Francesco Amaldi, Piero Benedetti, Graziano Pesole, Paolo Plevani) - Zanichelli (2018)
The lecturer will suggest additional material, such as scientific articles, images, and videos available on the web. Illustrations presented in class will be regularly posted on the Unistudium platform. The lecturer is also committed to assist students who cannot attend classes, as well as students affected by learning difficulties or any form of disability.- Educational objectives
i) Theoretical knowledge of relevant topics in Molecular Biology, and the ability to critically analyze, synthesize, and integrate related concepts and notions.
ii) Basic understanding of common methods and experimental procedures employed in molecular studies, including the ability to assess advantages and limitations of specific assays and techniques.
iii) Development of suitable language skills within a scientific context.- Prerequisites
Prerequisites for Molecular Biology include basic knowledge of both Biochemistry and Genetics, particularly with regard to the following topics: i) structural and functional organization of the cell; ii) structure of nucleic acids and proteins; iii) enzyme kinetics; and iv) bioenergetics and cell metabolism, cell division, DNA replication, transcription, and translation. To successfully complete the course and get credits, students must have taken, and passed, the following courses: Botany, Plant Genetics, and Biochemistry.- Teaching methods
In-class lectures (52 hours) will cover the entire course material. A few hours (2-4) will be dedicated to interactive discussions with students on selected topics. After completion of the course, students will be offered the opportunity to participate in mock examinations to give candidates experience of the examination process, and to identify areas of weakness in their knowledge and understanding.- Other information
Class attendance is not mandatory, however it is strongly recommended.- Learning verification modality
Oral exam consisting of a 45-60 min interview. Students will initially present one or two general topics (e.g. transcriptomics, recombinant proteins, control of gene expression etc.) to demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and attention to details, a capacity to integrate and critically evaluate concepts and theories, and the ability to discuss the application of technologies in basic and applied research. Students will subsequently be challenged with a few (4-6) questions concerning any topics of the course’s program.
Student Assessment: marks will combine the student performance in relation to overall knowledge (60%), an ability to make connections across different topics (20%), and language skills within a scientific context (20%).- Extended program
Omics disciplines (Genomics, Transcriptomics and Proteomics): description, methods, objectives, and applications in agricultural science. DNA replication. E.coli and mammalian DNA polymerases. DNA repair mechanisms. DNA sequencing: description and objectives. Sanger method, and general description of next-generation technologies (Pyrosequencing and Illumina technology). Functional and diagnostic significance of point mutations (SNP). Haplotypes. Metagenomics, Comparative Genomics, and Functional Genomics. Epigenetics. DNA methylation. Structural characteristics of nucleic acids. DNA amplification: PCR and related methodological applications (RAPD, RT-PCR, and site-directed mutagenesis). Gene promoters. Structure of genes in Prokaryotes. The lac operon. Regulatory proteins. Structure of genes in Eukaryotes. Enhancers. Isolators. Transcription factors. Genomes of Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes. Repeated sequences, satellite DNA, mini- and micro-satellites, and VNTRs. Non-coding DNA. Pseudogenes. Transposable elements. DNA supercoiling. DNA packaging in Bacteria. DNA packaging in Eukaryotes: histones, nucleosomes, and chromatin remodeling. Mutations. Proteins: structure, function, post-translational modifications, and degradation. Key aspects of enzyme kinetics. Protein analysis: chromatographic methods, SDS-PAGE, isoelectric focusing, and two-dimensional electrophoresis. Immunological methods: use of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. ELISA and Western blotting. General description of mass spectrometry. Gene transcription and protein synthesis. Regulation of transcription. Analysis of gene expression: Northern blotting, real-time RT-PCR, DNA microarrays, and RNA-Seq. Regulatory mechanisms at the post-transcriptional level: mRNA degradation and modification, regulatory proteins, antisense RNA, ribosome alterations, and Riboswitches. Interference RNA and the use of siRNA in Functional Genomics. Synthesis and function of microRNA.
DNA manipulation. Restriction enzymes. Restriction maps. Cloning vectors. Plasmids, lambda phage, and artificial chromosomes (YAC and BAC). Genomic and cDNA libraries. Gene cloning using DNA probes, PCR, and subtractive hybridization. Expression vectors. Production, purification, and characterization of recombinant proteins. Reporter genes. Plasmid Ti of Agrobacterium tumefaciens and production of transgenic plants. CRISPR-Cas9 technology: description, and applications in agricultural science.