Course: Cytotaxonomy and Cytogenetics

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Course title Cytotaxonomy and Cytogenetics
Course code KBB/CCGSB
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Exercise
Level of course Bachelor
Year of study 1
Semester Winter
Number of ECTS credits 4
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Grycová Aneta, Mgr. Ph.D.
  • Doležel Jaroslav, prof. Ing. DrSc.
Course content
Subject of study. Cell nucleus, its organization, amount of nuclear DNA, C-value, variability in nuclear DNA amounts, C-value enigma, changes in nuclear DNA contents during evolution, biological significance of non-coding DNA. Methods for estimation of nuclear DNA amounts, cytometric techniques, flow cytometry. Organization of eukaryotic chromosomes, centromere, centromere types, kinetochore, neocentromere. Telomere. Secondary constriction, nucleolar dominance. Methods for chromosomes analysis, chromosome banding, molecular cytogenetics, in situ hybridization, genomic in situ hybridization, chromosome painting, comparative genomic hybridization, PCR in situ. Chromosome morphology, karyotype, idiogram, karyogram. Various types of chromosomes, their function and evolution. A chromosomes, B chromosomes, microchromosomes, sex chromosomes. Genetic recombination. Meiosis, chromosome pairing, role of heterochromatin, chiasma formation, synaptonemal complex, crossing over. Variants of cell cycle, endoreduplication, endomitotis, polysomaty. Polytene chromosomes. Biological significance of modified cell cycles. Selective amplification of DNA. Selective elimination of DNA. Changes in chromosome number, euploidy, aneuploidy. Haploidy, diploidy, polyploidy. Mechanisms of chromosome number changes. Impact of chromosome number changes on fertility. Polyploidy in animals and plants. Evolution of polyploid genomes. Structural chromosome changes, clastogens. Kinetics of induction of chromosome aberrations, mechanisms of their formation, their classification. Distribution of aberrations in chromosomes and genomes. Methods for analysis of chromosome aberrations. Biological significance of aberrations. The role of changes of chromosome number and structure in the formation of reproductive barriers and speciation. Hybrid speciation, clonal complex, agamic complex. Heterogamic complex, polyploid complex, homogamic complex. Practice: Light microscopy. The analysis of mitosis, Feulgen reaction, preparation of permanent slides, chromosomes of a model plant, Vicia faba, cytological methods in taxonomy. The analysis of meiosis. Staining of meiotic preparations using orcein and carmine. Chromosome banding, C-banding, Q-banding, N-banding. SCE technique and its use. Methods of animal cytogenetics. Staining of feather pulp, staining of testes and brain ganglia in Erystalis tenax. Methods of human cytogenetics.

Learning activities and teaching methods
Lecture, Monologic Lecture(Interpretation, Training), Dialogic Lecture (Discussion, Dialog, Brainstorming), Observation, Laboratory Work
Learning outcomes
Aim of the subject is the description of cellular genophores with the foccus on nucleus and chromosomes, and the view into methods used for their study.
Student is able to (after attending the course): - Describe the eukaryotic chromosome structure and behaviour - Differentiate among chromosomes in the karyotype - Describe methods used in plant, animal and human cytogenetics - Explain the role of chromosomes in formation of reproductive barriers and speciation - Select appropriate cytogenetic method to assist in solving a taxonomic problem - Interpret the results obtained using cytogenetic techniques - Evaluate critically research papers
Prerequisites
unspecified

Assessment methods and criteria
Oral exam, Essay, Student performance

Exam: oral exam - three randomly chosen questions Practise: 1. attendance on the practicals, elaboration of protocols 2. written essay on chosen topic and its presentation 3. test
Recommended literature
  • Kočárek E., Pánek M., Novotná D. (2006). Klinická cytogenetika I.. Skriptum UK 2. LF, Karolinum, Praha.
  • Leitch, I. J., Greilhuber, J., Doležal, J., & Wendel, J. F. (2013). Plant genome diversity. Wien: Springer.
  • Levin, D.A. (2002). The Role of Chromosomal Change in Plant Evolution. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
  • Macgregor, H.C. An Introduction to Animal Cytogenetics. Chapman & Hall, London, 1993..
  • McKinlay Gardner, R.J., Sutherland, G.R. (2004). Chromosome Abnormalities and Genetic Counseling. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
  • Therman, E., Susman, M. Human Chromosomes, Springer-Verlag, New York, 1993.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Science Study plan (Version): Botany (2021) Category: Biology courses 1 Recommended year of study:1, Recommended semester: Winter
Faculty: Faculty of Science Study plan (Version): Molecular and Cell Biology (2021) Category: Biology courses 3 Recommended year of study:3, Recommended semester: Winter