Ateneo - UPO

The course provides the basics of DNA replication and transcription , of traslation mechanisms and of molecular biology methods.

- Watson et al., Biologia molecolare del gene” 7° edition. Zanichelli
- Amaldi et al., Biologia Molecolare 3° edition. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana
- Lewin, B. "Il Gene X". Zanichelli
- Alberts et al., Biologia Molecolare della Cellula. Zanichelli
- Lesson presentations

The student acquires: 1) Knowledge and understanding a) the molecular mechanisms of DNA duplication, of transcription and translation into eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells and 2) the basic molecular biology techniques. 2) Ability to use these principles in courses of physiology, pathology and other more specialized courses, also practice, that involve molecular knowledge of biological processes involving DNA, RNA and proteins. With the practical activity, he will be able to use the main techniques employed for RNA extraction, PCR amplification and subsequent electrophoretic analysis. 3) Communication skills about the use of an appropriate vocabulary in relation to the topics covered during the course.

The teacher does not advise to address the study of matter without the appropriate culture provided by the chemistry, citology and histology, genetic and biochemistry. The student should also have a property of language and scientific mastery.

Lessons in class, practice in class and laboratory sessions.

The slides projected by the teacher during the lesson are available in the DIR section (Molecular Biology I). The informations about the time organization (days and times) of the laboratory practice activity will be given during the couse. At the end of each laboratory practice activity, the results obtained will be discussed and analyzed. It is necessary, to access the laboratory session, to attend 70% of the theoretical part of the course (lesson in class). The teacher responds to the e-mails signed and coming from the domain name.surname@uniupo.it.

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request
specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services-
students-physical-or-learning-disabilities

Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted
the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination
modalities, concerning academic aspects.

The purpose of the exam is to verify the level of knowledge into all the subjects present in the course program and the reasoning capacity developed by the student. The exam consists in a written test with both multiple-choice and open questions. During the test is not possibile to consult any type of material.

DNA replication. Nucleic acids. DNA topology. Topoisomerases and their mechanism of action. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic DNA polymesares: structure and their mechanism of action. The replisome. Effect of DNA damage. DNA repair systems: direct repair, excision repair, mismatch-repair and recombination repair. Chromatin, nucleosomes and histones.
DNA transcription. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic RNA polymerases. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic gene organization. Initiation of transcription. General factors and basal transcription apparatus. RNA processing. Introns and splicing. Alternative splicing. Catalytic RNA. RNA editing. Global eukariotic regulation of gene expression. Regulatory transcription factors and molecular mechanisms of transcription regulation. RNA interference.
Traslation mechanisms. Ribosomal RNA and ribosome structure. The genetic code. tRNA structure. Codon-anticodon recognition, wobbling. AAtRNA synthetase and their mechanism of action. IF and their regulation. Elongation and EF. Termination of protein synthesis. Protein modifications. CRISPR revolution. The omics sciences: genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics.
Laboratory of biology molecular (theory).
Cloning ed restriction enzymes. Cloning and expression vectors. Library construction and screening. Analysis of nucleic acid fragments and protein expression. DNA sequencing and PCR (end-point and quantitative).
Practice:
Plasmid preparation, DNA cut and analysis on agarose gels. PCR end-point and electrophoresis.

1) Knowledge and understanding: the student will know a) the molecular mechanisms of DNA duplication, of transcription and translation into eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells and b) the basic molecular biology techniques.
2) Skills: the student will be able to use the information acquired in all disciplines that require knowledge about the molecular mechanisms of DNA duplication and transcription and of translation into eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Furthermore, the theoretical bases of molecular biology techniques will help the student in laboratory activities involving the use of these techniques. In particular he will be able to use the main techniques employed for the extraction of RNA, its amplification by PCR. Furthermore, the theoretical bases of molecular biology techniques will help the student in laboratory activities involving the use of these techniques. 3) Autonomy of judgment: the student will acquire the ability to critically analyze the elements linked to the molecular mechanisms about the DNA duplication, transcription and translation in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells and b) to the basic techniques of molecular biology. 4) Communication skills: the student will known and will use an appropriate vocabulary in relation to molecular mechanisms of the cell.
5) Learning skills: the student will acquire the ability to use the teaching material provided for a critical and reasoned study of the topics and also he will be able to deepen and update independently, through reading texts and scientific articles, issues related to all topics covered during the course.