MIBI 43026

>< Type/Status : Compulsory
>< Title : Microbial genetics and Bio-informatics
>< Pre-requisite : All MIBI core course units of the B. Sc. General degree program
>< Objectives : At the end of the course unit, the students will be able to demonstrate the knowledge and understanding of
• the manipulation of biological molecules in bacteria for detection, identification and genome transformation,
• the application of genetic manipulation in basic research,
• the basic principles of bio-informatics to study the microbial gene sequences.
>< Course content:

Microbial Genetics:
Structure and organization of the bacterial chromosomes; Bacterial plasmids; Transfer of genetic material among bacteria; Gene expression in prokaryotes; Gene organization in bacteriophages and different mechanisms of transcription. Structure and organization of the eukaryotic chromosomes (yeast), Gene organization in eukaryotes; RNA synthesis and processing in eukaryotes; Transposable elements.

Genetic manipulation: Cloning strategies, identification of recombinants; insertional inactivation, colony hybridization, DNA probes, Expression systems; design of expression vectors, other bacterial systems; strategies of gene expression in eukaryotic cells, general review of the application of genetic manipulation in basic research, medical research, biotechnology, recombinant organisms. Genetically manipulated organisms, risks of benefits.

Bio-informatics:
Introduction to bio-informatics, Basic of bio-computing, data base techniques to gene sequence information, Gene sequence alignments, Microbiological database and their management in relation to taxonomy, Comparative genomics and proteomics, basic laboratory work in bio-informatics and project work on selected areas in bio-informatics

>< Methodology : Throughout the year course with a combination of lectures and tutorials.
>< Scheme of Evaluation: 70% end of course examination, 30% project work of Bio-informatics
>< Recommended Reading:
1. Anderson, P and Ganetzky, B (1997) An electronic companion to genetics workbook. Cogito Learning Media, Inc
2. Freifelder, D (1983): Molecular Biology: 2nd Ed., John Wiley and Sons.
3. Sambrook, J., Frtsch, E.F and Maniatis, T. (1989) Molecular Cloning a Laboratory manual 2nd Ed. Vol. 1, 2, and3. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.
4. Singer,M and Berg,P (1991) Genes and Genome. University Science Books CA94941.
5. Turner, P.C., McLennan,A.G., Bates,A.D and S.White, M.R.S (2000) Instant Notes in Molecular Biology. Springer-Verlag New York,

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