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Agricultural Genetics and Molecular Biology

Course developer

Course abstract

The course aims to provide general (classical) and molecular genetics knowledge, methodology of genetic experiments and analysis of their results. Master's students become familiar with the laws of genetics on inheritance and variability, its molecular mechanisms, DNA research, and transformation methods in depth.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

By completing the course, master's students have knowledge of genetics and molecular mechanisms of heredity and skills in basic genetic research methods. Master's students can connect the acquired knowledge with other sub-sectors of agriculture.
Knowledge. Master's students gain in-depth knowledge of the laws of genetics, their molecular implementation, methods used in genetic research and transformation of genetic information. Students prepare for seminars, where they present oral reports on selected topics related to the master's thesis and solve genetics-related tasks.
Skills. Master's students understand the regularities of genetics and their molecular realisation in the cell. Understand various genetic research methods and their potential application in agriculture.
Competence. Master's students are competent in applying the methods of genetics and molecular biology in various sub-sectors of agriculture to study and analyse scientific and other literature and to discuss the topics learned during the course. Analysing experimental data of genetics and molecular biology can assess their applicability in various sub-sectors of agriculture.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Introduction to genetics and molecular biology (concept of genetics and molecular biology, main directions of research, historical development, tasks and importance today, object of research, methods, basic concepts) [1 L]
2. Cytological and chromosomal basis of heredity (cell cycle, mitosis and meiosis, karyotypes of organisms, chromosomal theory of heredity, structure of chromosomes, genetic maps of chromosomes) [2 L, 2 PD]
3. Laws of heredity (G. Mendel's laws of heredity, the interaction of allelic genes: mono-, di- and polyhybrid crossing, independent segregation of traits, the interaction of non-allelic genes, complementarity, epistasis, polymerism, modifications, linked inheritance of traits, crossover, its types and frequency hydrological analysis principles) [2 L, 2 PD]
4. Variability (organism variability, inherited and non-inherited variability of organisms, types of interaction between genes and the environment, response rate, mutations, theory of mutations, occurrence of mutations and their causes, classification of mutations: mutations of genes, chromosomes and genomes, mutagens, their classification, critical doses, the importance of mutations in the diversity of organism characteristics) [1 L, 2 PD]
5. Molecular basis of heredity (deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) structure, structure, replication, mutagenesis and repair, ribonucleic acid (RNA) biosynthesis and types, transcription, protein biosynthesis, genetic code, translation, gene expression in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, genome organisation) [2 L, 2 LD]
6. Gene - determinant of inherited characteristics (gene structure and functions, gene relationships and interaction)
Extranuclear heredity (cytoplasmic reproductive organelles, mitochondrial and chloroplast DNA, cytoplasmic male sterility) [1 L, 1 PD]
7. Propagation and modification of DNA (polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA cloning, ligation, restriction, nucleic acid visualisation, sequencing) [2 L, 1 PD, 2 LD]
8. Genetic markers (morphological, cytological, biochemical and molecular markers, their linkage with the heredity of traits, application in genetic analyses) [1 L, 2 LD]
9. Molecular markers of nucleic acids (methods in the development of markers, types of markers, application in genetic analysis) [2 L, 2 PD]
10. Genetics of gender (inheritance of gender-linked, gender-dependent and gender-limited traits, interaction of non-allelic genes and basic principles of heredity of gender-determined traits) [1 L]
11. Population genetics (Hardy-Weinberg law, its conditions, factors and processes affecting changes in the genetic structure of populations, analysis of the genetic structure of populations, fundamental evolutionary factors) [1 L]
Designations: L – Lectures, PD - Practical work/Seminars, LD – Laboratory work

Requirements for awarding credit points

1. Completed and credited laboratory work.
2. Students must write a genetics-topic test (10% of the final grade).
3. Prepares a written and oral report with the support of illustrative PowerPoint slides on a topic chosen by the master's student related to the subject to be learned in the study course (10% of the final grade).
4. Prepare an oral report with the support of illustrative PowerPoint slides on the analysis of a scientific publication on a topic relevant to the study course (10% of the final grade).
5. All works must be completed successfully. If all works are not evaluated with a passing grade, they are not allowed to take the final exam.
6. The evaluation of successfully evaluated works during the semester constitutes 30% of the final evaluation.
7. The remaining 70% is obtained during a written exam designed as a test. In order to obtain a passing grade, at least 50% of the total possible points must be obtained in the test.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

1. Each master's student prepares a report on a topic of his choice related to the subject to be learned in the study course (Word format; to be prepared following the regulations of LPTF. Desired volume: 10 - 15 pages without a list of used literature.
2. Each master's student prepares one 15-minute report (PowerPoint format) on a topic of their choice related to the subject to be learned in the study course.
3. Each master's student prepares one 15-minute paper (PowerPoint format) on analysing a scientific publication on a subject relevant to the study course.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

1. The test is evaluated with a grade on a 10-point scale.
2. Study works must be completed following the requirements outlined in the previous paragraph; reports – must be presented to a group of master's students: they are evaluated with a mark on a 10-point scale.
3. The final exam is graded on a 10-point scale.

Compulsory reading

1. Misiņa M., Loža V. 1991. Ģenētika ar selekcijas pamatiem.- Rīga: Zvaigzne, 397 lpp.
2. Āboliņš M. 1997. Ģenētikas praktikums.- Jelgava: LLU, 225 lpp.
3. Madera S. S. 2001. Bioloģija: eksperimentāla mācību grāmata. 1. daļa. - Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC, 290 lpp.
4. Balodis V.Ģ. u.c. 2015. Rokasgrāmata bioloģijā. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC, 432 lpp.
5. Alberts B. et al. 2022. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 7th edition, New York: Garland Science, 1552 pp.

Further reading

1. Jones P.G. and Sutton J. M. (Eds.) 1997. Plant molecular biology: essential techniques. Essential Techniques, Vol. 8, Wiley, 213 pp.
2. Watson J.D. 1992. Recombinant DNA, 2nd edition. W. H. Freeman, Scientific American books, 626 pp.
3. Ream W., Field K.G. 1998. Molecular Biology Techniques: An Intensive Laboratory Course. Academic Press, 234 pp.

Periodicals and other sources

1. Žurnāls "Trends in Genetics", Cell Press, https://www.cell.com/trends/genetics/home
2. Žurnāls "Euphytica", Springer, https://www.springer.com/journal/10681
3. Žurnāls "Theoretical and Applied Genetics", Springer, https://www.springer.com/journal/122
4. https://www.nature.com/scitable/topic/genetics-5/
5. https://www.nursinghero.com/study-guides/microbiology/visualizing-and-characterizing-dna-rna-and-protein