• genetic information
• nucleic acids
• genes and genomes
• DNA in living nuclei

Unit organization

The unit is divided into 4 sections:

• Genetic Information
• The Nucleic Acid Molecules
• Organization of information in DNA molecules
• DNA molecules in living cells

Each section is comprised of few video recorded lectures, corresponding to text and figures found in the pages linked to each section, and also some optional recommended reading/seeing/listening links or refs that will be pointed out where appropriate. On the same platform hosting the video lectures and on some of the linked pages exercises and quizzes for self assessment are provided, that should be used to confirm the learning outcomes have been reached.

Students are expected to watch to the recorded lectures or/and read the text version (whichever is more convenient) and explore the links that are provided. Some of the linked pages may also contain exercises that must be solved in order to successfully participate to the group acivities.

List of the Learning Outcomes -
as part of individual (I) or group activity (G) as indicated

By completing this unit you will be able to:

• Genetic Information

  • (I) - Describe the experimental evidence demonstrating the existence of transmissible informations between cells and which biomolecule carries information in living cells

• Nucleic Acid Molecules

  • (I) - Describe the structure of DNA and RNA and explain which part of nucleic acid molecules contains genetic information
  • (I) - Explain how the shape of the double helix is related to its function
  • (I) - Describe the mechanism of action of the principal DNA modifying enzymes and of the assay techniques used in recombinant DNA technology
  (I) - Describe the principles and the rules that apply in splicing together fragments of DNA molecules

• Genes and Genomes

  • (I) - Explain the concept of gene
  • (I) - Relate the concept of gene to the concepts of genome and genotype
  • (I) - Describe the organization of animal genomes
  • (I) - Describe the principal types of MGE and their mechanism of action and describe their putative role in evolution
  • (G) - Predict the final position and orientation of specific sequences after manipulation in a cut and paste experiment
  • (G) - Describe the aims and the state-of-the-art of the present projects studying structure and function of human genome, and evaluate the advantages and limitations of systematic approaches to study a genome
  • (G) - Compose a list of criteria to identify a gene in an unknown DNA sequence

• DNA in living cells

  • (I) - Describe the state of DNA molecules inside nuclei of living cells, and how this condition is achieved in chromatin
  • (I) - Describe a nucleosome and explain the mechanism that modulates its interactions with DNA
  • (I) - Define the different condensation states of chromatin and explain how the cell can allow or prevent condensation
  • (I) - Describe the interactions between chromatin and nuclear cytoskeleton and explain how TADs LADs and chromatin loops are formed and regulated
  • (G) - Predict the state of a region of the DNA fiber, according to the presence of specific sequences and the known regulation of the contained genes
  • (G) - Predict how the presence of specific genes and their regulation state could affect other genetic phenomena such as chromosomal rearrangements