Genetic Engineering
Code
7112
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia
Department
Departamento de Ciências da Vida
Credits
6.0
Teacher in charge
Ana Madalena Peres de Drumond Ludovice Mendes Gomes, Rosario Mato Labajos
Weekly hours
4
Total hours
68
Teaching language
Português
Objectives
The students should be able
(i) to understand the natural mechanisms of genetic exchanges at molecular level and their important role on the recombinant DNA technology establishment;
(ii) to learn laboratory techniques and methodologies used in genetic engineering;
(iii) to integrate the theoretical concepts and the practical approaches, and to design experimental strategies to developed different scientific proposals.
(iv) to be able to read scientific papers developing a critical attitude; and
(v) to develop of a good performance in oral communication of scientific matters in a clear and synthetic form.
Prerequisites
it is recommended that the students have a basic background on molecular biology, biochemistry and genetics.
Subject matter
Syllabus
Mechanisms of genetic changes: mutation; recombination; gene transfer mechanisms; bacterial and phage genetic analysis.
Recombinant DNA Technology - restriction enzymes and restriction mapping; cloning vectors; enzymes used in molecular cloning; molecular cloning strategies; genomic and cDNA libraries; shotgun cloning and gene screening; chromosome walking; gene inactivation by RNA anti-sense; in vitro mutagenesis; production and characterization of recombination proteins: lac-fusions and tags-fusions; antibody production; western-blotting.
Genomic and proteomic: genetic functional analyses in post-genomic era (transcriptional profiles – arrays; 2D gel electrophoresis).
Laboratory sessions: Mutation reversions in Bacillus subtilis mutants after different mutagenic treatments. Plasmids transfer by conjugation between of E. coli strains. Gene expression systems.
Practical lessons of bioinformatics: use of databases to search DNA and amino acid sequences; principles annotation of genomes; use of bioinformatics tools for sequence analysis and comparison; identification of promoter regions, prediction of operons; cellular localization of proteins; identification of point mutations; identification of transposition mutants; construction of transcriptional fusions and fusions of promoters in silico; cloning strategy for construction of conditional mutants.
Theoretical / Practical: exercises / practical problems: genetic mapping gene transfer, cloning strategies; restriction mappings; Presentation and discussion of articles.
Teaching method
Teaching strategy involves lectures, lab and computer/bioinformatic sessions.Lecture handouts and other learning support are available in the course Moodle webpage.
Evaluation method