The objective of the course is to provide students with the cultural tools to approach the study of the organization of genomes and molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying gene expression; during the course it will explained the theoretical concepts at the base of the most important techniques of molecular biology and their applications.

From DNA to proteins. DNA as the genetic material. Chemical structure and physical structure of DNA. The discovery of the double helix structure. Alternative structures of DNA (A, B, Z) and superstructures (cruciform, supercoiled, curved DNA). RNA structure. Genetic code and protein synthesis. Deciphering, properties, and evolution of the genetic code. The components of the translational apparatus: ribosomes, mRNA, tRNA and aminoacyl synthetase. Mechanism of translation in prokaryotes and eukaryotes: initiation, elongation and termination. General regulations and specifications of the translation.
Organization and evolution of genes, chromosomes and genomes. DNA content and complexity of genetic sequences; unique and repeated sequences of DNA; coding and non-coding regions of the genome, the structure of exons/introns of genes, origin and evolution of introns, intron functions, organization and evolution of gene families; simple sequences and satellite DNA; organization and structure of chromosomes, centromeres and telomeres, histones, structure of nucleosomes and chromatin organization.
DNA replication. Semiconservative replication and progressive of DNA; replicons, replication forks and origins; unidirectional and bidirectional replicons; replicons and the replication origins of prokaryotic chromosomes; replicons and origins of eukaryotic chromosomes; topological models for DNA replication; discontinuous replication and Okazaki fragments; DNA polymerase of prokaryotes and eukaryotes; enzymatic apparatus of replication; control of replication; replication of chromatin. Prokaryotes and eukaryotes transposons. Outline of major DNA repair mechanisms.
Transcription and its regulation. RNA polymerase and prokaryotic promoters; transcription mechanism and regulation in prokaryotes; the paradigm of lactose operon. RNA polymerase and eukaryotic promoters: Pol I, Pol II and Pol III; transcription and transcription regulation in eukaryotes. Transcription factors. Termination, antitermination and attenuation of transcription. Chromatin structure and transcription: active chromatin and chromatin remodeling. DNA methylation and transcription.
RNA processing. Maturation of transcripts in prokaryotes: mRNA maturation of phage T7, and of E. coli rRNA and tRNA; autocleavage of RNA. RNA Processing in Eukaryotes; modifications of ribosomal RNA; methylation and pseudouridylation of RNA; snoRNA and snoRNP. Maturation of eukaryotic mRNAs: structure of M7G-cap and of poly (A) tail, enzymatic mechanisms of "capping" and "polyadenylation". Mechanisms of RNA splicing: introns of type I and type II; autosplicing; nuclear splicing and spliceosome; splicing of yeast tRNA. RNA editing.
The technology of recombinant DNA and molecular cloning. Molecular cloning; construction of DNA libraries; probes and screening of the libraries; expression libraries; restriction mapping; the length polymorphism of the restriction fragments (RFLP); DNA sequencing.

None

D1- KNOWLEDGE AND CAPACITY OF UNDERSTANDING

The student at the end of the course will have a demonstrable basic knowledge of the processes involving DNA as genetic material, in particular the structure of nucleic acids, the mechanisms of replication, transcription, RNA modification, and protein synthesis.

D2- CAPACITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

The student must acquire the ability to apply the knowledge gained from the study to discuss topics related to the various molecular processes, and associate the characteristics of a process or structure of a molecule with its function

D3- JUDGEMENT AUTONOMY

The student must show to be able to independently increase basic knowledge of new aspects of molecular biology and to have gained autonomy in the application of knowledge obtained

D4- COMMUNICATION SKILLS

The student should have acquired the appropriate skills to relate and discuss competently with colleagues or superiors on issues related to molecular biology, but must also show good communication skills to relate on these issues with non-specialist interlocutors

D5- LEARNING ABILITY

The student will have to demonstrate its ability to read and understand scientific publications in molecular biology also of high level and in English, for a continuous updating useful in the study and research

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Material to support teaching will be given in class

Teaching

The course will consists in lecturers in class.

Attendance

Students are highly advised to attend the course.

Students are strongly advised to take the exam after examining inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry

Course books

Course book: F. Amaldi, P. Benedetti, G. Pesole, P. Plevani. BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE, CEA, 2011.

TEXTS OF CONSULTATION
B. Lewin, J.E. Krebs, E.S. Goldstein, S.T. Kilpatrick. IL GENE, Zanichelli, 2011.
L. A. Allison. Fondamenti di biologia molecolare, Zanichelli, 2008.
R. F. Weaver. BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE, McGraw-Hill, 2009.
J. D. Watson , T. A. Baker, S. P. Bell, A. Gann, M. Levine, R. Losick. BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE DEL GENE, Zanichelli, 2009.
J. D. Watson, A.A. Caudy, R.M. Myers, J.A. Witkowski. DNA RICOMBINANTE, Zanichelli, 2009.

Assessment

The final evaluation of the course will be done through a written test and an oral exam. The written test consists of 6 multiple choice questions and four open-ended questions. The multiple choice questions are worth a total of 4 points, while the open questions allow you to get the maximum 6 points. The oral discussion will consist of questions on at least three topics. The purpose of the esamination is to verify the acquired knowledge and to evaluate the ability to correlate the various topics discussed in the course (descriptors 1 and 2), the communication skills (descriptor 4) and the ability to solve practical problems (descriptors 3 and 5). Comunication ability and appropriate scientific terminology used will also be evaluated. 

The final grade is calculated as the sum of points obtained in the written test with those obtained in the oral test. During the course will be offered self-assessment tests to students attending. Moreover, it will also take account of participation in class.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

The course will consists in lecturers in class.

Course books

TESTBOOKS
F. Amaldi, P. Benedetti, G. Pesole, P. Plevani. BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE, CEA, 2011.

TEXTS OF CONSULTATION
B. Lewin, J.E. Krebs, E.S. Goldstein, S.T. Kilpatrick. IL GENE, Zanichelli, 2011.
L. A. Allison. Fondamenti di biologia molecolare, Zanichelli, 2008.
R. F. Weaver. BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE, McGraw-Hill, 2009.
J. D. Watson , T. A. Baker, S. P. Bell, A. Gann, M. Levine, R. Losick. BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE DEL GENE, Zanichelli, 2009.
J. D. Watson, A.A. Caudy, R.M. Myers, J.A. Witkowski. DNA RICOMBINANTE, Zanichelli, 2009.

Assessment

The final evaluation of the course will be done through a written test and an oral exam. During the course will be offered self-assessment tests to students attending. The final evaluation will be carried out on the preparedness of the student, on his presentation and discussion skills. Moreover, it will also take account of participation in class.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.