Teaching
1. Recombinant DNA Technology, 2. Molecular Ecology and Adaptation, 3. Development, Differentiation and Signal transduction
Undergraduate Courses:
Course Title: Recombinant DNA Technology
Name of Lecturer: Polydeukis Hatzopoulos, Ioanna Κourti, Dimitra Milioni, Manolis Flemetakis
Course Code: 3200
Type of course: Theory
Year of study: 4th Semester
Number of credits: 3
Objectives of the course: Introduction to Recombinant DNA Technology. Basic concepts of gene cloning, transfer and establishment of genetic molecules in cells/organisms (methods, target genes, methodology, strategies.
Course contents: Basic tools of the recombinant DNA technology. Restriction endonucleases and modification enzymes. Principles and cloning vectors. Isolation of nucleic acids and electrophoretic methods of analysis. Blotting methods (Southern, Northern) and hybridization techniques. Genomic libraries – construction, examination and analysis of clones. cDNA libraries. Construction of cDNA libraries that allow the isolation of cDNA clones that interact with other proteins (Two hybrid system). Construction of libraries containing full cDNAs. Vectors used for cDNA cloning. E. coli strains used for cDNA library construction and development. Induction of gene expression – promoters and selection indices. Methods for DNA sequencing. Chromosomal walking, mutagenesis and gene inactivation. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Basic principle of PCR. Laboratory applications of PCR. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic gene expression systems. Transfer of DNA to animal cells. Transformation techniques using DNA (Chemical, mechanical physical and biological methods). Animal genetic modification. Methods for transgenic mouse production. Methods for transgenic production of other mammals and birds. Genomic transfer to Xenopus. Genomic transfer to invertebrates: Transgenic flies.
Course Title: Recombinant DNA Technology
Name of Lecturer: Polydeukis Hatzopoulos, Ioanna Κourti, Dimitra Milioni, Manolis Flemetakis.
Course Code: 3200
Type of course: Laboratory exercises
Year of study: 4th Semester
Number of credits: 2
Objectives of the course: In laboratory exercises students practice on modern technological approaches in the topic of recombinant DNA. More specifically, are familiarized with technological approaches such as isolation and purification of nucleic acids, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), determination of the nucleotide sequence, use of expression systems, etc.
Course contents: Isolation of genomic DNA, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), analysis and purification of PCR products from agarose gel, cloning in plasmid vectors, DNA sequencing, search and analysis of sequences in international data bases, development and titration of recombinant λ-bacteriophages, in vivo cleavage of recombinant plasmid from λ-bacteriophage, recombinant plasmid isolation and characterization of the inserted cDNA, genomic DNA isolation from recombinant λ-bacteriophage and characterization of the inserted part, DNA mapping of λ-bacteriophage using restriction endonucleases.
Course Title: Development, Differentiation and Signal Transduction
Name of Lecturer: Ioanna Κourti
Course Code: 3370
Type of course: Theory
Year of study: 8th Semester
Number of credits: 3
Objectives of the course: Understanding of the complexity of the developmental pathways of animals as well as the molecular mechanisms that are involved in the process of differentiation of animal cells. Referring and understanding the way animal organisms develop, through the molecular approach. The aim is to answer questions related to two major issues: 1) how the fertilized oocyte becomes an adult body and 2) how the adult body produces another body.
Course contents: Gametogenesis in animals: 1. Oogenesis, general characteristics, morphology and hormonal control. 2. Spermatogenesis, stages, structure, differentiation and migration. Fertilization: gamete identification, activation, connection, induction, polyspermy barrier, activation of ovum metabolism, cell cycle and development regulation. Cavity formation: factors, regulation, forms. Drosophila developmental pattern: meta-embryonic development, determination of embryo differentiation, the role of maternal and zygotic genes. Mus developmental pattern: meta-embryonic development, determination of embryo differentiation, the role of maternal and zygotic genes.
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Course Title: Development, Differentiation and Signal Transduction
Name of Lecturer: Ioanna Κourti
Course Code: 3370
Type of course: Laboratory exercises
Year of study: 8th Semester
Number of credits: 2
Objectives of the course: In laboratory exercises students practice on Development of animals. The students see the process of differentiation of animal cells, Understanding the way animal organisms develop, through the molecular approach.
Course contents: Development of Xenopus, Sea Urchin, Drosophila, Planaria, Chicken
Course Title: Molecular Ecology and Adaptation
Name of Lecturer: Ioanna Κourti, Dimitra Milioni and Polydeukis Hatzopoulos,
Course Code: 3625
Type of course: Theory
Year of study: 5th Semester
Number of credits: 3
Objectives of the course: The aim of Molecular Ecology and Adaptation course is the understanding of environmental (external) cues and the response of organisms through dynamic changes in expression, e.g. induction or/and repression, of various genes. Special emphasis is given on the interaction between genes and the environment which affects the growth of organisms.
Course contents: Genetics of animal behavior. Genetic analysis of behavior. Genetics of human behavior. Adaptation behaviors-insect diapause. Genetic and molecular approach of diapause. Regulation of diapause and types of gene expression. Stress proteins and their role in diapause. Biological clocks. Biological rhythms and adaptation. Circadian rhythms. Clock genes in Drosophila. Circadian clocks of insects. Molecular study of circadian systems in various organisms. Circadian and photoperiodic clocks. Environmental pollution and response of organisms. Molecular mechanisms of interaction between plants and microorganisms. Gene responses of plant organisms in light and mechanical stimuli. Molecular response mechanisms in abiotic stresses. Molecular adaptation.
Course Title: Molecular Ecology and Adaptation
Name of Lecturer: Ioanna Κourti, Dimitra Milioni, Polydeukis Hatzopoulos
Course Code: 3625
Type of course: Laboratory exercises
Year of study: 5th Semester
Number of credits: 2
Objectives of the course: The aim of the laboratory exercises is the methodology of analysis and strategy of molecular responses of organisms in various environmental signals.
Course contents: Observation of the biological cycle of the insect Sesamia nonagrioides (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in the lab. RNA isolation from Sesamia nonagrioides. cDNA construction. Directions for the design of degenerated promoters for gene isolation. Familiarization with bioinformatics (via the Internet) for the analysis of genes and proteins. The National Center of Biotechnology Information (NCBI). GenBank file structure [‘the CDS characteristic’ (CDS future)]. Basic Local Alignment Search Tool, BLAST, as a method of discovery of sequence similarity. Prediction methods using DNA sequences. Prediction methods using protein sequences. Protein identity using the ExPASy server of the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics. Physical properties of proteins based on sequence [(Compute pI/MW & ProtParam (ExPASy)]. Motifs and patterns. Methods for plant RNA isolation. Reverse transcription reaction and tracking of gene expression dynamics using semi-quantitative PCR.
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