Genetic Analysis Trends and Concepts

This advanced course explains the most important genetic concepts to unravel and understand complex biological phenomena. We in detail explain the genetic processes underlying variation and its inheritance and their relevance with respect to evolution. We center our course around three main themes: Mutation, recombination and (epi-)genetic transmission. All three themes are both cause and consequence of evolution.
We expect students to gain a thorough understanding of the concept of a separation between soma and germline and its genetic and evolutionary consequences: Cells in the soma differentiate and change phenotypically because of epigenetic but also genetic processes like for example polyploidization, mitotic recombination and cytoplasmic segregation. Similar processes affect the germline through meiotic recombination, mutation, segregation, ploidy changes and epigenetics. Students will practise using various methods to calculate genetic parameters like linkage and mutation rate. We expect students to integrate this knowledge into a larger understanding of how such mechanisms affect selection (that act on the soma as well as on gametes) and trade-offs in reproduction strategies. Mutations that favor the germline might adversely affect the soma and vice versa.
We illustrate these fundamental concepts in a series of both classical and state-of-the-art experiments, using a wide variety of model- (and well-studied) organisms like Arabidopsis, Aspergillus, Drosophila, Human and E. coli. In addition we discuss a number of classical research papers (like Mendels' original paper) and current research highlights in contemporary reviews (on topics like mutation, recombination and genetic transmission). Ultimately, students should gain an understanding of the complex interactions that shape the genome and the associated phenotypes.

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:

• Explain the consequences of the soma-germline differentiation
• Calculate the mutation rate, explain how it can be induced, and can evolve
• Calculate the recombination rate, and explain how it can evolve
• Apply formulas to meiotic and mitotic recombination data (including tetrad analysis) to map genes relative to each other and centromeres
• Use and explain genetic- and epigenetic concepts like: epistasis, QTL mapping, complementation, polyteny, X-chromosome inactivation, (endo-)polyploidy, aneuploidy
• Using data of offspring phenotypes, infer the allelic and non-allelic interactions of responsible genes
• Use and explain evolutionary-genetics concepts like: mutation accumulation, antagonistic pleiotropy, experimental evolution, genetic parasites
• Design and perform basic genetic experiments to test predefined hypotheses, using appropriate methods and genetic model systems.

Mandatory Knowledge:
ZSS06100 Laboratory Safety
Assumed Knowledge:
GEN11806 Fundamentals of Genetics and Molecular Biology, GEN21306 Introduction to Genetic Analysis or BIC20306 Cell physiology and Genetics, or an equivalent basic genetics course