Nucleic acid structure. Organization of genes chromosomes and genome. Replication, recombination and DNA repair. Transcription and transcriptional Regulation in procaryotes and eukariotes. RNA maturation in eukaryotes. Protein synthesis and genetic code. Epigenetic modifications of DNA and post-translational modification of protein. Molecular biology methods and genetic engineering.

CONTENTS

Nucleic acid structure:
Chemistry and physiscs of nucleic acids, Alternative structures of DNA, DNA topology and DNA topoisomerases, RNA structure.

Packing of DNA:
Packaging of viral, bacterial and eukaryotic genome, Nucleosomes. Structural and functional proprieties of chromatin

DNA replication:
The replicon, DNA polymerases, the replication of DNA in bacteria and eukaryotes.

Mutations and repair systems:
Base and nucleotide excision repair system, mismatch repair, post-replication repair, repair of double strand breaks

Recombination:
Homologous and site-specific recombination, transposition

Transcription mechanisms and regulation:
Bacterial and eukaryotic RNA polymerases and promoters. Mechanisms of Transcription in eukaryotes and prokaryotes. The lac and trp operon. Eukaryotic transcription regulation, transcription factors, chromatin remodeling, DNA methylation and imprinting

RNA splicing and processing

Translation:
Mechanisms of translation in eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Regulation of translation. Genetic code: structure and propierties

Methods in molecular biology:
Molecular cloning, DNA separation, DNA sequencing, PCR: polymerase chain reaction, DNA and RNA analysis using genetic probes