Genetics

Code: BIO13651L

6 ECTS

Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours

Scientific Area: Biological Sciences

Teaching languages: Portuguese

Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese, English

Regime de Frequência: Presencial

Sustainable Development Goals

Fome zero e agricultura sustentável - Acabar com a fome, alcançar a segurança alimentar e melhoria da nutrição e promover a agricultura sustentável.

Saúde e bem-estar - Assegurar uma vida saudável e promover o bem-estar para todos, em todas as idades.

Educação de qualidade - Assegurar a educação inclusiva, e equitativa e de qualidade, e promover oportunidades de aprendizagem ao longo da vida para todos.

Igualdade de género - Alcançar a igualdade de gênero e empoderar todas as mulheres e meninas.

Vida na água - Conservação e uso sustentável dos oceanos, dos mares, e dos recursos marinhos para o desenvolvimento sustentável.

Vida terrestre - Proteger, recuperar e promover o uso sustentável dos ecossistemas terrestres, gerir de forma sustentável as florestas, combater a desertificação, deter e reverter a degradação da Terra e deter a perda da biodiversidade.

Learning Goals

Objectives:
Understanding the principles and language of Genetics.
General acquaintance with the role of Genetics in biological knowledge.
Competences:
Approaching situations involving the genetic analysis of biological variation.
Mastering of the concepts and language inherent to Genetics.

Part I. Basic concepts
Chapter 1 Genetic material
Gene, chromosome, mutation
Chapter 2 Meiosis
Mendels work with pea
Chromosome linkage
Tetrad analysis
Heterosomes
Cytoplasmic inheritance
Chapter 3 Phenotype
Dominance types
Interactions between non-alleles
Maternal effect
Developmental genetics
Chapter 4 Populations
Gene frequencies
Concept of equilibrium
Evolution forces

Part II. Chromosomes
Chapter 5 Karyotypes
Ploidies
Variations in number
Variations in structure
Infertilities
Chapter 6 Maps
Diploids, haploids, prokaryotes
Genomics

Part III. Genetic analysis
Chapter 7 Mendelian analysis
Study of proportions
Pedigrees
Chi-square test
Chapter 8 Quantitative traits
Polygenes
Components of phenotypic variation
Heritability, artificial selection
QTLs

Part IV: Genetics and Evolution
Chapter 9 Evolution
Polymorphisms
Geographic variation
Speciation
Phylogenies

Teaching Methods

Theoretical classes: ordered lecturing with interactive discussion of the programmed concepts, supplemented by the resolution of illustrative exercises.
Theoretical-practical classes: clarification of questions; application of the theoretical sessions concepts through active learning tasks, in groups or individually.
The evaluation may follow the continuous or final regime.
In continuous evaluation there are two individual written tests (frequências), one covering Part I of the programme, and the second simultaneously with the final evaluation of the normal period, covering the remainder. In the final evaluation there is a single individual written test (exam). All of these tests consist of questions in a format similar to that of the exercises practiced in class.
Both regimes include 4 short oral or written tests, taken individually or in groups, during 4 theoretical-practical sessions. These 4 tests make up 20% of the final mark, and the remaining 80% result from the written tests.