Teaching code

4S02027

Credits

6

Coordinator

Sara Zenoni

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

AGR/07 - AGRICULTURAL GENETICS

Courses Single

Authorized with reserve

Moodle Seminars 0

The teaching is organized as follows:

Learning objectives

The course aims at illustrating principles of genetic transmission at molecular, cellular and population level. Mendelian, molecular and population genetics elements will be taught. Existing traditional grapevine breeding methods, based on natural and induced genetic variability, and modern plant breeding instruments, genomic based, will be reviewed.

Prerequisites and basic notions

Knowledge of cell biology and physiology, organic chemistry and biochemistry

Program

Introduction to genetics, the different branches of genetics. Identification of genetic material from Griffith's experiments and from those of Avery, McLeod and McCarty.
Chemical, physical and functional structure of DNA. Organization of DNA.
The chromosomes.
DNA replication, Meselson and Stahl experiments, DNA polymerase and telomerase.
Gene expression and the central dogma of molecular biology Properties of RNA, types of RNA.
The genetic code and protein translation.
Gene regulation, differences between prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
Gene mutations and repair mechanisms.
Natural and induced mutations.
Chromosomal and genomic mutations, aneuploidy and polyploidy.
Mitosis and cell cycle.
Meiosis and gamete formation.
Mendelian inheritance and chromosomal theory of inheritance. Extensions to Mendel's hypotheses, autosomal genes and genes linked to sex.
Associated genes and association maps.
Segregation and recombination and cytological basis. Qualitative and quantitative characters, Johanssen studies in bean.
Heritability, environmental and genetic variance.
Extranuclear inheritance, chloroplasts and mitochondria. Epigenetic inheritance.
Transposons and mobile elements.
Population genetics.
Genetic improvement of plants, conventional methods and methods based on genetic modification.
The goals of modern breeding in viticulture.

Didactic methods

Lectures with laboratory exercises. Lessons will be delivered exclusively in person without any recourse to emergency online teaching methods. It will not be provided in other ways except limited to students who, due to Covid, cannot access the University, upon presentation of the relative request on the appropriate form. The delivery methods relating to this case will be decided by the teacher and may include sending the registration, organizing a lesson in streaming, sending additional material or organizing a meeting in person or remotely.

Learning assessment procedures

The assessment of learning outcomes involves a written test with multiple choice questions, open questions and exercises. The test lasts 2 hours. To access the written test it is necessary to submit at least one week before the test the reports relating to the laboratory activities with compulsory attendance. If the mark in the written test is less than or equal to 20/30, the candidate will also have to sit an oral test. If the grade of the written test is higher than 20/30, the candidate can choose to take the oral test or accept the grade of the written test. The oral exam potentially covers all the topics of the program. The final evaluation is expressed out of thirty

Evaluation criteria

The scores attributed to the multiple choice answers, to the open answers and to the exercises will be explained in the exam text. The laboratory reports will be assigned the following scores: "1" for complete and well-structured relationships, "0" for sufficiently structured relationships and "-1" for incomplete relationships.

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

The final grade will be calculated by adding the grade from the written test with the grade of the report.

Exam language

Italiano

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