Introductory Genetics

COURSE OUTLINE Fall 2020

Course Title: INTRODUCTORY GENETICS

Course Code: PLBG-5101

Credit Hours: 3(2-1)

Instructor: Muhammad Shehzad

Whatsapp/Cell# +923127460746

DESCRIPTION & OBJECTIVES

Objective of this course is to teach the students of B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture the basic principles of genetics, mechanism of heredity, effect of environment on organism, the structure of gene and the inheritance pattern of different characters.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students will be able to understand the basic concepts genetics and their application in crop improvement and understanding of genetic mechanisms in living organisms.

COURSE CONTENTS

Theory: Definition of genetics, concepts of heredity and variation. Cell and cell divisions. Mendelian genetics: chromosome theory of heredity, various genotypic and phenotypic ratios and their modifications. Differences between allelic and non-allelic interactions (epistasis), illustration of epistasis with suitable examples. Pleiotropy and multiple allelism. Multiple factor hypothesis. Linkage and crossing over. Sex determination: sex linked and sex influenced traits. Chromosomal aberrations. Nucleic acids: nature, structure and function. Classical vs modern concepts of gene.

Practical: Study of cell divisions and gametogenesis. Calculation of monohybrid and dihybrid ratios. Numerical examples relating to gene interaction, multiple alleles and multiple factor inheritance. Calculation of linkage from test cross and F2 data.

READINGS

Sing, B.D. 2004. Genetics. Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi, India.
Klug, W.S. and M. R. Cummings. 2003. Concepts of Genetics. (7th ed.) Pearson Education, Singapore.
Sing, P. 2003. Elements of Genetics. (2nd ed.) Kalyani Publisher, New Delhi, India
Rehman, A., A. Shakoor and M.A. Khan. 1980. Elements of Genetics. Deptt. Plant Breeding & Genetics, Univ. Agri. Faisalabad.
Pierce, B. A. 2002. Genetics- A conceptual approach. (2nd ed.) W. H. Freeman and Company. New York.

COURSE SCHEDULE
Week	Topics and Reading	Books with Page No.
1	Distribution of teaching schedule and discussion about the course contents. Definition of genetics, concept of hereditary and variation. Cell Structure.	Book 4; Chapter 1 Pg 1-2, Chapter 2 Pg 6-8
2	Discovery of cell and development of cell theory, sexual reproduction in plants and hybridization. Preformation and epigenesis theories about inheritance, Darwin’s hypothesis of pangenesis. Cell cycles, Mitosis	Book 4; Chapter 1 Pg 2-4, Chapter 2 Pg 8-11, Book 5; Chapter 1 Pg 8-11, Chapter 2 Pg 23-26
3	Inheritance of acquired characters, germplasm theory of inheritance. Brief life sketch of Mendel, reasons for Mendel’s choice of pea plant for study of inheritance. Cell cycles, Meiosis	Book 4; Chapter 1 Pg 4-5, Chapter 2 Pg 11-14, Chapter 3 Pg 20-21, Book 5; Chapter 1 Pg 8-11, 48, Chapter 2 Pg 31-35
4	Contrasting characters selected by Mendel for inheritance studies, law of segregation. law of segregation, Concept about dominant and recessive traits, alleles, phenotype, genotypes etc. Reproduction, Gametogenesis in animals	Book 4; Chapter 2 Pg 13-15, Chapter 3 Pg 21-24, Book 5; Chapter 3 Pg 49-52
5	Law of independent assortment. Gametogenesis in plants.	Book 4; Chapter 3 Pg 24-26, Book 5; Chapter 3 Pg 61-62
6	Backcross and test cross with suitable examples. Blending Theory and particulate theory, Incomplete dominance with suitable examples. Exercise on genetic problems related to monohybrid segregation.	Book 4; Chapter 3 Pg 26-31, Book 5; Chapter 3 Pg 58-63
7	Reasons for Mendel’s success, reasons for slow acceptance of Mendel’s work. Chromosomes theory of heredity, similarities between Mendel’s factors and chromosomes. Exercise on genetic problems related to monohybrid segregation.	Book 4; Chapter 3 Pg 29-32, Book 5; Chapter 3 Pg 49-53
8	Formulae about number of kind of gametes genotypes, phenotypes, homozygotes, heterozygotes etc. Inheritance of albinism, taste blindness, eye colour, MN blood groups in human, difference between phenocopy and phenotype. Exercise on genetic problems related to dihybrid segregation.	Book 4; Chapter 3 Pg 32, Chapter 4 Pg 35-37
9	Definition of lethal gene, examples of lethal gene in plants and animals. Group discussion. Exercise on genetic problems related to dihybrid segregation.	Book 4; Chapter 4 Pg 37-39, Book 5; Chapter 5 Pg 105
10	Definition and concept of gene interaction. Concept of recessive epistasis, dominant epistasis, examples about recessive and dominant epistasis. Genetic problems on epistasis.	Book 4; Chapter 5 Pg 41-43, Book 5; Chapter 5 Pg 107-110
11	Duplicate recessive epistasis, duplicate dominant epistasis, examples of duplicate recessive and duplicate dominant epistasis. Dominant and recessive epistasis, factor interaction; examples about dominant and recessive epistasis, factor interaction, Mendelian 9:3:3:1 ratio resulting from factor interaction. Genetic problems on epistasis.	Book 4; Chapter 5 Pg 44-46, Book 5; Chapter 5 Pg 110-111
12	Concept of multiple alleles, difference between multiple factors and multiple alleles. Examples of multiple alleles in human and plants, compound loci (Pseudo alleles), isoalleles. Genetic problems on multiple alleles.	Book 4; Chapter 6 Pg 49-54, Book 5; Chapter 5 Pg 105-107
13	Sex chromosomes, autosomes, mechanisms of sex determination in human and animals. Concept of quantitative and qualitative traits, pleiotropy. Examples of quantitative traits in human and plants. Genetic problems on multiple alleles.	Book 4; Chapter 7 Pg 56-61, Chapter 8 Pg 63-64, Book 5; Chapter 4 Pg 77-90
14	Use of binominal theorem in determination of various genotypic and phenotypic classes in F2 population. Concept about linkage of genes on chromosome and crossing over, linkage group, coupling and repulsion. Factors affecting crossing over, linkage studies in plants and drosophila. Genetic problems on quantitative inheritance.	Book 4; Chapter 8 Pg 65-66, Chapter 9 Pg 69-72, Chapter 11 Pg 81-83 Book 5; Chapter 7 Pg 163-170, Book 5; Chapter 7 Pg 238-256
15	Detection of linkage, calculation of linkage and crossing over from test cross data. Calculation of linkage and crossing over from F2 data. Change by recombination, Change in chromosome number. Genetic problems on linkage and crossing over. Book 4; Chapter 9	Pg 72-74, Chapter 11 Pg 81-83, Book 5; Chapter 7 Pg 163-170, Book 5; Chapter 7 Pg 238-256
16	Change in chromosome structure, Chemical changes in the chromosome. Classical concept of gene, structure of DNA and structure of gene according to modern concept.	Book 4; Chapter 11 Pg 83-86, Chapter 10 Pg 77-79, Book 5; Chapter 7 Pg 238-256,