Course Overview

How the characters are inherited from parents to offspring? What kind of molecules are responsible for the mechanism of heredity? In this course we learn the genetic basis of life: sexual life cycles and meiosis, Mendelian genetics, linkage and chromosomes, nucleic acids and inheritance, expression of genes, control of gene expression, DNA technology, and the evolution of genomes.

Learning Achievement

Genetics is a field in biology to understand the mechanism of inheritance in which characters are taken over generation after generation. Nowadays, it is essential to understand how DNA works as the genetic material and to learn how to manipulate DNA in diverse fields of biology. First, we learn the fundamentals of genetics (e.g., reproduction, meiosis, chromosomes) and classic Mendelian genetics. Second, we learn the mechanisms of DNA replication, transcription, translation and regulation, along with the history of molecular biology. Third, we learn the progress in DNA/RNA sequencing technology which supports rapid development of modern biological sciences. Finally, we learn the evolution of genomes by comparing genomic information among diverse organisms. Those are the prerequisites for “Evolutionary Genetics”, “Genome Biology”, “Molecular Evolution”, “Biophysics”, and “Cell Biology”.

Competence

Course prerequisites

Self-directed learning (or completion of “Essential Biology”) before the course is required if you have not learnt biology (genetics) in high school.

Grading Philosophy

Evaluated comprehensively based on attendance, effort, quiz (provided every time), and final exam.

Course schedule

Sexual Life Cycles and Meiosis (Chapter 13)/Mendelian Genetics (Chapter 14) [Sawamura]
Linkage and Chromosomes (Chapter 15) [Sawamura]
Nucleic Acids and Inheritance (Chapter 16) [Tanimoto]
DNA Technology (Chapter 19) [Tanimoto]
Expression of Genes (1) (Chapter 17, 17.1~17.3) [Kobayashi]
Expression of Genes (2) (Chapter 17, 17.4~17.5) [Kobayashi]
Control of Gene Expression (Chapter 18, 18.1~18.3) [Kuwayama]
Control of Gene Expression (Chapter 18, 18.4~18.5) [Kuwayama]
The Evolution of Genomes (Chapter 20) [Inagaki]
Final Exam

Course type

Lectures

Online Course Requirement

Instructor

Sawamura Kyoichi,Tanimoto Keiji,Kobayashi Michihiko,kuwayama hidekazu,Inagaki Yuji

Other information

Don’t hesitate to ask us any questions. It will help your understanding.

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