Biochemistry and molecular biology

Module molecular biology

The aim of the course is to provide students with knowledge and to stimulate their understanding of the flow of genetic information and the importance of its maintenance and control in the cell. In particular, the study of the structure of macromolecules and the biological mechanisms that characterise them: DNA duplication, RNA transcription, protein translation and their associated regulatory mechanisms will be explored.

Lectures
If the course is taught in a blended mode or at a distance, the necessary variations from what has been stated above may be introduced in order to comply with the syllabus set out in the Syllabus.

Achievement of the learning objectives of the propaedeutic teachings.

Course attendance is compulsory to the extent stipulated in the course regulations.

STRUCTURE OF MACROMOLECULES. Chemical and physical properties of nucleic acids. The structure, the topology and conformation of the DNA double helix. The structure, classes of RNA and their functional versatility. Basics of the structure of proteins and their biological role. ORGANISATION OF THE GENOME AND THE GENE.
Organisation of DNA in the cell. Chromatin structure: from the nucleosome to higher order fibres. Physical and functional characteristics of the genomes of prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Meaning of coding and non-coding sequences in the genome. Characteristics of the gene in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. THE MECHANISM OF REPLICATION. General characteristics. DNA polymerases and their specialisations. The replicative fork and DNA synthesis. The initiation, termination and regulation phases of replication: comparison between prokaryotes and eukaryotes. DNA MUTABILITY AND REPAIR. DNA damage, replication errors and their repair. THE MECHANISM OF TRANSCRIPTION. RNA polymerases and their specialisations. Transcription factors and promoters. The initiation and termination phases of transcription: comparison between prokaryotes and eukaryotes. RNA maturation mechanisms: capping, polyA tail addition, splicing, editing. The spliceosome. THE MECHANISM OF TRANSLATION. General characteristics.The genetic code and its rules. The binding of amino acids to tRNA.The translation apparatus: structure and function of tRNA and ribosome.The initiation, elongation and termination phases of translation: comparison between prokaryotes and eukaryotes.THE REGULATION OF GENE EXPRESSION.Control of gene transcription initiation by activators and repressors.Regulatory RNAs.Gene regulation in prokaryotes: operon model.Gene regulation in eukaryotes: enhancer function, insulator, silencer, histone modification, nucleosome remodelling. MOLECULAR BIOLOGY METHODOLOGIES.Electrophoresis of macromolecules.Analysis of nucleic acids by PCR, real-time, microarrays.Sequencing.

The test consists of an interview in which at least three questions covering at least three topics from the programme will be asked. The test is designed to verify the level of knowledge of the structure of macromolecules and the molecular mechanisms in which they are involved in the cell, the level of knowledge and understanding of the biomolecular methods in use for the study and analysis of macromolecules, clarity of exposition, and the property of scientific language.
The following parameters will be taken into account in awarding the final grade:
Grade 29-30 cum laude: the student has a thorough knowledge of the organisation, structure, function of macromolecules and the molecular mechanisms in which they are involved, succeeds readily and correctly in integrating the information acquired, has excellent communication skills and masters the scientific language of the discipline.

Grade 26-28: the student has a good knowledge of the organisation, structure, function of macromolecules and the molecular mechanisms in which they are involved, succeeds in integrating the information acquired in a satisfactory manner, has good communication skills and clearly uses the scientific language of the discipline.

Grade 22-25: the student has a discrete knowledge of the organisation, structure, function of macromolecules and the molecular mechanisms in which they are involved, even if limited to the main topics; he/she is able to integrate the acquired information in a critical but not always linear manner, he/she expounds the topics quite clearly with a discrete language property.
Grade 18-21: the student has minimal knowledge of the organisation, structure, function of macromolecules and the molecular mechanisms in which they are involved, has a modest ability to integrate and critically analyse the acquired information expounds the arguments in a sufficiently clear manner although the property of language is poorly developed.
Examination failed: the student does not possess the required minimum knowledge of the main teaching content. The ability to use the specific language is poor or nil and is unable to integrate the knowledge acquired.
The final mark is the weighted average of the marks obtained in the various tests of the Integrated Course.

What is protein synthesis