John C. Avise, 2004. Molecular markers, natural history, and evolution. Sinauer Associates, Inc. Pub., Zunino & Zullino, 2004. Biogeografia. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana. Frankham et al., Fondamenti di Genetica della conservazione, ed. Zanichelli. Biotecnologie molecolari, Brown, ed. Zanichelli. Evolutionary conservation genetics / Jacob Höglund Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press
Learning Objectives
Knowledge on the processes of generation of genetic diversity. Knowledge of the more common genetic markers. Zoological and genetic learnings for the use of molecular markers in the study of phylogeny, ecologicy and evolutionary history of animals Competence acquired application of molecular techniques for population and conservation genetic studies.
Prerequisites
Courses required: Genetics, Zoology I and II
Courses recommended
Evolutionary genetics
Population genetics
Teaching Methods
Frontal lectures and exercitations in lab
Type of Assessment
Oral exam
Course program
Preservation of tissues for DNA analysis. DNA extraction. Non invasive genetics. Ancient DNA. Genetic biodiversity and conservation. Principal molecular techniques: PCR, sequencing, cloning and sizing. Principal molecular techniques RAPDs, RFLPs, AFLPs, SNPs, sequences of mitochondrial and nuclear gene portions, SSCP, microsatellites, microarrays. Study cases and applications to zoological problems: population genetics, species identification (Barcoding), phylogeny and phylogeography, conservation genetics. The study and problems of game species. Intra and interspecific hybridization studies. Data Analysis and molecular softwares. Organization and use of a laboratory of Molecular Zoology. Laboratory lessons: DNA extraction from an animal tissue and blood. PCR amplifications of nuclear and mitochondrial gene portions. Automated sequencer analyses: sizing, sequencing