Biology – Genetics

General

Course Contents

  • Origin and evolution of the cell. Properties of macromolecules – Lipids, vitamins, polysaccharides, proteins, nucleic acids.
  • Energy – Forms of energy. ATP and cellular function. Enzymes – specificity of enzymes, factors affecting enzyme activity.
  • Cellular theory. Differences of prokaryotic – eukaryotic cells. Cell membrane – structure and function. Mitochondria – electron transport chain, oxidative phosphorylation. Chloroplasts, photosynthetic reactions.
  • Nucleus and genetic material – chromosomes, histones. Endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complex, lysosomes, peroxidosomes, cell skeleton.
  • Prokaryotic organisms – Eubacteria, archaeobacteria. Viruses – phages, plant viruses, animal viruses.
  • DNA structure – DNA replication, paradox of C value. Central dogma of Biology.
  • Genetic code. Transcription, translation of genetic information.
  • Cell cycle. Mitosis, meiosis. Karyotype. Cell death.
  • Mutations – point mutations, chromosomal mutations, gene mutations. Mutation repair mechanisms.

Educational Goals

The aim of this course is to introduce students to basic concepts of Biology such as: macromolecules, prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, cell, cellular organelles, photosynthesis, respiration. Also the approach to certain basic mechanisms of Genetics such as mitosis, meiosis, DNA replication, transcription, translation of genetic information, mutations, is another objective of the course.

General Skills

  • Work in an interdisciplinary environment.
  • Generation of new research ideas.
  • Promote free, creative and inductive thinking.
  • Search, analyze and synthesize data and information using the necessary technologies.
  • Independent work.

Teaching Methods

Face to face:

  • Lectures (theory) in the classroom.

Use of ICT means

  • Teaching with Power point presentations.

Teaching Organization

ActivitySemester workload
Lectures40
Exercises15
Independent Study20
Total75

Students Evaluation

  • Writing exams in the end of the semester.

Recommended Bibliography

  1. Avice, J. C. (1994). Molecular markers, natural history and evolution, Kluwer Academic Publishers.
  2. Benjamin, L. (2000). Genes VII. Oxford University Press.
  3. Claus-Dieter P. (1997). Βιολογία. Ιωάννινα.
  4. Darnell, J., Lobish, H. & Baltimore, D. (1986). Molecular cell biology. Scientific American Books.
  5. Eiseltova, M. (1994). Restoration of Lake Ecosystems. IWRB, publ. 32.
  6. Futuyma, D. J. (1995). Εξελικτική βιολογία. Πανεπιστημιακές Εκδόσεις Κρήτης.
  7. Giler, P. S. (1998). The biology of streams and rivers. Oxford University Press.
  8. Gopal, B., Junk, W. J. & Davis, J. A. (2000). Biodiversity in wetlands: assessment, function and conservation, volume I.
  9. Gopal, B., Junk, W. J. & Davis, J. A. (2000). Biodiversity in wetlands: assessment, function and conservation, volume II.
  10. Hickman, C. P., Roberts, L. S. & Larson, A. (1993). Integrated Principles of Zoology. Mosby, Boston.
  11. Klein, R. M., MacKenzie, J. & McKenzie, J. C. (1999). Basic Concepts in Cell Biology: A Student’s Survival Guide. McGraw-Hill Professional Publishing.
  12. Pack, P. E. (2007). CliffsAP Biology. John Wiley and Sons.
  13. Rothwell Norman, V. (1993). Understanding genetics. Wiley-Liss.
  14. Simon E. J. (2016). Βιολογία, βασικές έννοιες. Επιστημονικές εκδόσεις Παρισιάνου Α. Ε.
  15. Solomon, J., Horsfall, P., Hughes, R., O’Brien, P. & Reiss, M. (2000). Biology. Nelson Thornes.
  16. Αλεξανδρή – Χατζηαντωνίου Ε. (2000). Βιολογία– Η μελέτη της ζωής. Εκδόσεις Σταμούλη Α. Ε. Αθήνα.
  17. Θωμόπουλος Γεώργιος Ν. (1990). Βιολογία κυττάρου. University Studio Press.

Related Research Journals

  1. Biologia
  2. BMC Systems Biology
  3. Journal of Fish Biology
  4. Cahiers de Biologie Marine
  5. Journal of Environmental Protection and Ecology
  6. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology
  7. Journal of Zoology