Description
Recombinant DNA technology has revolutionized our ability to investigate the genomes of diverse species and has led to the modern revolution in genomics. Modern genetic techniques are playing an emerging role in agriculture, health, medicine, foods, disease diagnosis and therapy. Genetic technology is developing faster than the policies, laws, and conventions that govern its use.
Course Contents
Recombinant DNA: Recombinant DNA Technology Introduction, Basic Techniques, PCR and Rt PCR, Restriction enzymes, Plasmids, Bacteriophages as tools, the formation of recombinant DNA, recombinant DNA methodology, Site directed Mutagenesis, DNA sequencing.
Application of Recombinant DNA: Applications of recombinant DNA technology using prokaryotes, recombinant DNA technology in eukaryotes: An overview, transgenic yeast, transgenic plants, transgenic animals, screening for genetic diseases, identifying disease genes, DNA typing, gene therapy, genetically modified organisms and apprehensions.
Mechanisms of Genetic Change I: Gene Mutation: The molecular basis of gene mutations, spontaneous mutations, induced mutations, reversion analysis mutagens and carcinogens, biological repair mechanisms.
Mechanisms of Genetic Change II: Recombination: General homologous
recombination, the holiday model, enzymatic mechanism of recombination,
site-specific recombination, recombination and chromosomal rearrangements.
Mechanisms of Genetic Change III: Transposable Genetic Elements: Insertion sequences, transposons, rearrangements mediated by transposable elements, review of transposable elements in prokaryotes, controlling elements in maize.
Human Genome Project: Strategies and application, achievement and future prospects.
Plant Genome Projects: Arabidopsis, achievement and future prospects. Other plant genome projects Bioinformatics: Application of computational tests to the analysis of genome and their gene products
Bioethics: Moral, Religious and ethical concerns
Course Aim
This course aims to develop understanding about modern genetic techniques. The role and applications of modern techniques in agriculture, food, medicines, disease diagnosis and therapy. And the Ethics concern with modern genetics.
Student learning outcomes/ learning objectives
By the end of Genetics II, student should be able to:
- Know the applications of recombinant DNA technology, genomics and bioinformatics
- Understand molecular basis of genetic change, transposable genetic elements and mutations
- Explain recombination and chromosomal rearrangements
- Realize the pros and cons of GMOs and GM foods
- Understand the repair mechanisms of DNA
- Understand the processes of identification for genetic diseases
- Understand the future prospects of genomics including human and plants genomes
- Familiarize with bioethical issues
Assessment methodology
This is a three-credit lecture course
Mid Term Exam 30 Marks
Final Term Marks 45 Marks
Practical Exam 15 Marks
Sessional (Attendance, assignment & presentation) 10 Marks
Readings
Concepts of Genetics Global Edition by Klug, William S. Cummings, Michael R. Spencer, Charlotte A. Michael A. Palladino (Eleventh Edition). Pearson Education Limited, 2016.
Genetics: A conceptual approach by Pierce, B. A.. W. H. Freeman and Company, New York, 2005.
Essentials of Genetics, Global Edition by William S. Klug, Michael R. Cummings, Charlotte A. Spencer, Michael A. Palladino (Ninth Edition) Pearson Education Limited, 2016.
Analysis of Genes and Genomes by Richard J. Reece. John Wiley & Sons, Limited, 2004.
