Genetics

Code:	LBBA1155		Acronym:	GEN
Scientific Area:	Biology and Biochemistry

Occurrence: 2022/23 - 2S

Teaching Area:

Biological Sciences (BS)

Courses

Acronym	Nº de Estudantes	Plano de Estudos	Academic Year	Credits	Horas Contacto	Total Hours
LBBA	22	Despacho n.º 7512/2022 de 15/06	1º	5	60	140

Hours Actually Taught

LBBA_1

Ensino Teórico:	0,00
Theoretical and Practical:	60,00

Teaching - Weekly Hours Ensino Teórico: 2,00 Theoretical and Practical: 2,00 Type Teacher Classes Hours Ensino Teórico Totals 1 2,00 Angelo Mendes Pinto de Figueiredo - ESA   0,67 Carla Marisa Reis Varanda - ESA   0,00 Sílvia Carneiro Alves - ESA   1,33 Theoretical and Practical Totals 1 2,00 Ana Maria Gomes de Sousa Neves - ESA   0,00 Angelo Mendes Pinto de Figueiredo - ESA   0,67 Carla Marisa Reis Varanda - ESA   0,00 Sílvia Carneiro Alves - ESA   1,33

Teaching - Responsabilities Teacher Responsabilidade Sílvia Carneiro Alves - ESA Responsável

Learning outcomes of the curricular unit (knowledge, skills and competences to be developed by the students)

Knowledge of the structure, function, and transmission of genes. Understanding of the relationship between phenotype, genotype, and environment and of the ways of working genotypes for the improvement of phenotypes. Knowledge of the fundamentals and of the products of the main technological applications of genetics.

Syllabus

1. Gene structure and function: evolution of the concept, types, and organization of genes.
2. Genotypic diversity: gene mutations; homologous recombination; transposition; chromosomal and genomic mutations; selection and migration; introduction to population genetics.
3. Phenotypic diversity: gene expression and regulation; RNA and the history of life; qualitative and quantitative phenotypes; introduction to quantitative genetics.
4. Transmission of genes and of their expression: replication and transmission of nucleic acids; parental imprinting.
5. Applied Genetics: (i) Genetic improvement: from domestication to scientifically sustained breeding; objectives and products; methods of obtaining genetic variability; theory and methods of selection. (ii) Techniques in molecular biology; modern biotechnology and its pillars; genome analysis and gene identification. (iii) Genetic engineering: genetic transformation, production of GMO and new breeding techniques; applications in a few areas.

Demonstration of the syllabus coherence with the curricular unit's learning objectives

The first four chapters of the syllabus run through the fundamental concepts of genetics, the causes of genetic diversity, the regulatory processes that convert it into the phenotypic diversity and the genetic and epigenetic transmission processes. The fifth chapter articulates the previous information in the design of tools, techniques, and methods of application to the development of products and services, with an emphasis on the food area.

Teaching methodologies (including evaluation)

Teaching includes lectures and problem solving.
The evaluation is a final examination, with weights of the theoretical and practical components of, respectively, 2/3 and 1/3. All students are admitted to the exam.
Partial dispensation of examination is possible. For this purpose, there are 1 theoretical test (on the LMS platform) and 1 practical form (on paper or on the LMS platform). Obtaining a minimum of 10 in the theoretical test allows the dispensation of this theoretical component in the final exam. Obtaining a minimum of 10 in the practical form allows the exemption of the practical component of final examination. To complete the curricular unit, students with partial dispensation must obtain a minimum of 10 in the remainder of the final exam.

Demonstration of the coherence between the teaching methodologies and the learning outcomes

Lectures are essential to support the understanding of concepts and processes and integrate them in applications conducive to the development of products and services. Problem solving in practical classes seeks the routine use of concepts and the consolidation of the understanding of the processes.

Bibliography (Mandatory resources)

Arraiano, C. M. & Fialho, A. M. (Coord.) (2007). O Mundo do RNA: Novos Desafios e Perspectivas Futuras. Lisboa: Lidel, 296 pp.
Griffiths, A. J. F. et al. (2020). An Introduction to Genetic Analysis (12th ed.). New York: W. H. Freeman & Co Ltd., 891 pp.
Hartl, D. L. & Jones, E. W. (2004). Genetics: Analysis of Genes and Genomes (6th ed.). Burlington: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Inc., 854 pp.
Hayward, M. D., Bosemark, N.O. & Romagosa, I. (Eds) (1993). Plant Breeding: Principles and Prospects. London: Chapman & Hall, 550 pp.
Telo da Gama, L. (2002). Melhoramento Genético Animal. Lisboa: Escolar Editora, 306 pp.
Watson, J. et al. (2007). Recombinant DNA: Genes and Genomes - A Short Course. Cary: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 474 pp.

Observations