Programme

Basic molecular techniques for the manipulation of nucleic acids. Students will learn how to use pipettes and other common laboratory instruments, and will tackle the various experimental steps aimed at cloning a DNA fragment. In particular, they will explore the use of restriction/modification enzymes, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and its applications. Finally, they will conduct electrophoretic analysis on agarose gel for the separation of DNA fragments produced by PCR.

Core Documentation

Recommended textbooks:
TESTO BASE CONSIGLIATO: BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE, AMALDI ET AL., TERZA EDIZIONE, CASA EDITRICE ZANICHELLI. ALTRI TESTI CONSULTABILI: 1) GENOMI, BROWN, QUARTA EDIZIONE, CASA EDITRICE EDISES; 2) IL GENE, LEWIN, TERZA EDIZIONE COMPATTA, ZANICHELLI.

Lecture notes and calculation exercises will be provided.
Non-attending students are invited to request information on the program, teaching materials and how to evaluate the profit.
The professor receives every day from 10.00 to 11.00 by appointment via e-mail: manuela.cervelli@uniroma3.it.

Type of delivery of the course

The course will take place with lectures and training in didactic laboratories.

Attendance

The course will take place with lectures and training in didactic laboratories.

Type of evaluation

Oral examination. The oral exam consists in an interview of about 10 minutes and will focus on the topics covered during the laboratory experience. The day of the examination a written report on the laboratory experience has to be presented and discussed, demonstrating to have understood the theoretical and practical principles of the techniques carried out during the laboratory experience. Furthermore, the ability to critically discuss the obtained results is required.

Programme

the course of Molecular Biology is part of the teaching activities of the degree courses in life sciences. The course through frontal lessons and laboratory training aims to provide the general understanding of the molecular mechanisms which regulate the biological processes occurring within a cell, with particular emphasys on genetic structure, organization and expression of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Tools will be given to understand the main molecular biology strategies and techniques utilized to study genes and genomes. Furthermore, the subject takes into consideration the most updated molecular biology experimental procedures utilized in basic and applied research. The students will get acquainted with theoretical knowledge and methodological skills that will enable them to apply the correct study to solve specific problems in the field of molecular biology. The course concerns the general understanding of the molecular mechanisms which regulate the biological processes occurring within a cell, with particular emphasys on genetic structure, organization and expression of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Furthermore, the subject takes into consideration the most updated molecular biology experimental procedures utilized in basic and applied research. The teaching program is organized as follows: genome anatomy, transcriptomes and proteomes; genome accessibility; transcription initiation complex; RNA syntheses and maturation; proteome syntheses and maturation; genome sequencing; genome replication; DNA repair systems; genetic recombination; genetic engineering and DNA recombinant techniques.

Core Documentation

BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE, AMALDI ET AL., CASA EDITRICE ZANICHELLI
BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE, CAPRANICO ET AL, CASA EDITRICE EDISES
FONDAMENTI DI BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE, L.A. ALLISON, , CASA EDITRICE ZANICHELLI
Registered students will be provided with lecture notes
The professor is available daily by appointment via email: giovanni.antonini@uniroma3.it

Type of delivery of the course

Attendance is strongly recommended

Attendance

Attendance at lessons is strongly recommended. Mandatory attendance at laboratory exercises

Type of evaluation

The exam will consist of an oral test on the topics presented in the program

Programme

Basic molecular techniques for the manipulation of nucleic acids. Students will learn how to use pipettes and other common laboratory instruments, and will tackle the various experimental steps aimed at cloning a DNA fragment. In particular, they will explore the use of restriction/modification enzymes, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and its applications. Finally, they will conduct electrophoretic analysis on agarose gel for the separation of DNA fragments produced by PCR.

Core Documentation

REFERENCE TEXTBOOK:
BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE, AMALDI ET AL., TERZA EDIZIONE, CASA EDITRICE ZANICHELLI.
FURTHER SUGGESTED TEXTBOOKS: 1) GENOMI, BROWN, QUARTA EDIZIONE, CASA EDITRICE EDISES; 2) IL GENE, LEWIN, TERZA EDIZIONE COMPATTA, ZANICHELLI.
1. ANALISI DEI GENI E GENOMI, REECE, EDISES.
2. DNA RICOMBINANTE, J.D.WATSON, A.A. CAUDY, R.M. MYERS E J.A. WITKOWSKI, ZANICHELLI.

Attendance

Attendance to lectures strongly recommended. Compulsory attendance to laboratory exercises

Type of evaluation

Oral examination. The oral exam consists in an interview of about 10 minutes and will focus on the topics covered during the laboratory experience. The day of the examination a written report on the laboratory experience has to be presented and discussed, demonstrating to have understood the theoretical and practical principles of the techniques carried out during the laboratory experience. Furthermore, the ability to critically discuss the obtained results is required.