COURSE: PLB 201- Introductory Genetics and Evolution (3 Credits
compulsory)
COURSE DURATION: Two hours of lecture and three hours of practical per
week (75h); 30h (T), 45h (P) as taught in 2011/2012 session
Lecturers Details:
Mustapha, O.T.
Qualification: B.Sc., M.Sc. Ph.D.(Ilorin), MBA (Buk)
E-mail: otiem787@yahoo.com
Office Location: Block 3 Room F22, Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of
Science, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
Consultation hours: 11am – 1p.m Wednesday
Course Contents:
Principles of Inheritance, structure and behaviour of chromosomes. Nucleic acids and
genes. Sex determination. Gene action variation. Evolution and speciation. 30h (T) 45h
(P).
Course Description:
PLB 201 is designed for all 200 level Plant Biology, Microbiology, Zoology,
Biochemistry, Science Education and Counsellor Education students. The course is to
introduce students to the basic concepts in heredity and evolution, such that they will
have a better understanding of the structure and behaviour of the genetic material. The
course is also meant to bring students to terms with how sex is determined, variations in
actions of genes. The emphasis of the course is also placed on evolution, evidence in
support of evolution, Darwin’s theory and how new forms are produced.
Course Justification:
Information concerning basic principles of transmission mechanism and evolution is
needed by the students to prepare them for more detailed courses in Cytogenetics and
Molecular Biology. Knowledge gained from this course will equip the students to explain
the basis of inheritance and the evolutionary importance of genetic variation. This is
because an understanding of genetic processes is fundamental to the comprehension of
life itself.
Course Objectives:
The general objective of the course is to introduce a concise description of basic concepts
in genetics and evolution. At the end of the course, the students should be able to:
- Show the importance of the nucleus
- Know that genetic information determines an organism’s appearance
-
Understand how genetic information serves as the link between generations in every
species
Understand the process of evolution by explaining evidences in support of evolution
and various theories of evolution.
Describe adaptation and evolutionary patterns.
Explain theories on the origin of life and earth.
Course Requirements:
The course is compulsory for all students of Plant Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology,
Zoology and Science Education. All these students are expected to have a satisfactory
class and practical class attendance of not less than 75%.
Method of Grading:
The students will be assessed through practicals, tests/assignment and examination as
follows:
Practical
10 marks
Test and assignments
20 marks
Examination
70 marks
Total
100 marks
Course Delivery Strategies:
Lectures on the course will be delivered through chalk and talk method (lecture note)
and practical laboratory sessions.
- Determinations of Mendel’s Monohybrid cross .ratio.
- Determination of ‘goodness of fit’ in F2 Mendel’s dihybrid cross data
- Mitotic studies using prepared slides
- Meiotic studies using prepared slides
LECTURES:
Week 1: Definition of genetics. Reproduction types.
Objective:
At the end of the lecturer, the student should be able to explain the
importance of genetics and understand the genetic importance of sexual and asexual
reproduction.
Description:
The course content will be introduced to students with an assurance to make the
teaching fascinating and interesting. Emphasis will be laid on the need for
reproduction and difference between the two types.
Study Questions:
1. Of what importance is the study of genetics?
2. What is the major necessity of such a process as reproduction.
3. Explain the genetic importance of sexual and asexual reproduction.
Reading List:
1. Olorode, O., Fatunla, T and Adegoke, A.(1978). Introductory Genetics and
Evolution.
1st Ed. Academic Press.
2. Patt, D.I. and Patt, G.R. (1975). Am Introduction to Modern Genetics. 2nd Ed.
Addison – Wesley Publishing Comp., Inc. Importance of Nucleus.
Week 2: Heritable and Non Heritable Variations.
Objectives: The objective is to show that hereditary factors reside in the nucleus and
controls the activities of the cell. Another objective is to make students know that
these is a considerable interplay between heritable and environmental components of
variation and to show that variability is a fundamental characteristic of life.
Description:
An excellent proof that the nucleus plays a vital role in heredity will be demonstrated
to students in an experiment with a single – celled algae, Acetabularia. Students will
be introduced to various ways through which biological variation can arise, examples
of heritable and non heritable as well as environmentally induced variations.
Study Questions:
1. List ten hereditary variations that are observable in people.
2. Give two species of unicellular alga that can be used to show the importance of
the nucleus.
3. Discuss how biological variations can arise.
4. Give the salient features of Hammerling Experiment
Reading List:
1. Olorode, O., Fatunla, T and Adegoke, A.(1978). Introductory Genetics and
Evolution. 1st Ed. Academic Press (Available in Library).
2. Pedder, I.J.. and Wynne, E.G. (1972). Genetic: A basic Guide. Hutchinsm
Education Press.
Week 3: Early Ideas of Genetics
Objectives:
At the end of the lecture, students should know those scientists that addressed the
science of heredity before Mendel.
Description:
Activities of Scientists before Mendel on heredity will be brought to fore using their
theories. These include theories of Pangenesis, Epigenesis and Performation is on.
Others include theory of inheritance of Acquired characters and theory of continuity
of germplasm.
Study Question:
1. What mechanisms of heredity were postulated by Hippocrates and William
Harvey?
2. Discuss – the validity of Weismann’s theory.
3. Who postulated the theory of inheritance of acquired characters?
Reading List:
Olorode, O., Fatunla, T and Adegoke, A.(1978). Introductory Genetics and Evolution.
1st Ed. Academic Press.
Week 4: Inheritance: Mendel’s Experiments
Objective: The objective of the week’s lecture is for the student to explain the
patterns of inheritance which result in Mendel’s simple ratios.
Description:
Mendel’s Monohybrid and dihybrid experiments and how he arrived at law of
segregation as independent assortment will be explained to students. Punnet square
will be used to determine inheritance ratios. Testcross will also be enumerated.
Terminologies in genetics will be discussed.
Study Questions:
1. Explain what you understand by (a) segregation and (b) independent assortment.
2. What test is used to determine an unknown genotype?
3. A tall plant crossed with a dwarf one produces offspring of which almost one-half
are tall and one-half dwarf. What are the genotypes of the parents?
4. Distinguish between dominance and recessistance
5. Give five reasons why Mendel’s choice of Garden Pea gave him advantages.
Reading List:
1. Sinnott, E.W. Dunn, L.C. and Dobzhansky, T. (1968) Principles of Genetics. (5th
ed.) McGraw-Hill Book Comp., Inc.
2. Smith-Keary, P. (1991) Molecular Genetics Macmillan Pub.
Weeks 5 and 6: Linkage
Objective:
At the end of these weeks schedule, students should know that there are exceptions to
the rule of independent assessment.
Description: Explanation will be given on how some genes seemed to segregate as if
they were joined together. Incomplete linkage, crossing over and mechanism of
genetic recombination will be examined.
Study questions:
1. What is the significance of crossing over?
2. Use the red eye, normal wing and purple eye vestigial wing to show the effect of
incomplete linkage in Drosphila.
3. How does crossingover occur?
4. Differentiate between classical and chiasmatype theories of genetic
recombination.
Reading List:
1. Baldwin, R.E.(1973) Genetics. 1st ed. John Willey and sons, Jnc. Pg. 136.
2. Hancrek J.T. (1999). Molecular Genetics Butter worth Heinemann 2nd edition pg
86
Week 7: Sex chromosome, sex linkage and sex determination.
Objective:
The goal of this lesson is to make students know that
. sex chromosomes are different from autosomes and B-chromosomes
. some traits are sex linked
. ways by which sex is determined.
Description:
Morgan’s explanation of white or red eyed character in Drosophila to show sex
linkage. Other examples such as colour blindness and haemophilia are to be
examined. Ways by which sex is determined.
Study Questions:
1. What are the sex chromosomes?
2. How many kinds of sex chromosomes do you have in humans?
3. What are some ways by which sex is determined in plants and animals
4. What are sex-linked traits?
Reading List:
Baldwin R. E.(1973) Genetics 1st ed. John Willey & Sons, Inc. pg.89.
Weeks 8 and 9: Nuclear Materials.
Objective:
At the end of this week students should confidently be able to
. define what the molecular units of DNA are.
. Explain how the units of DNA come together to form a DNA molecule
. Explain the techniques that led to the elucidation of the structure of DNA.
. Explain how DNA replicates
Description:
This lesson covers differences between DNA and RNA properties of nucleic acid,
components of Nuclear materials, X-ray destruction of DNA molecule. Base ratio
determination, Double helix nature of DNA with hydrogen bonding and modes of
replication of DNA.
Study questions:
1. How does a nucleotide differ from nucleoside?
2. Why is the pentose sugar found in nucleic acid so named?
3. Which of the bases are classified as pyrimidines and which are purine?
4. Name the enzyme that catalyses the synthesis of DNA?
5. What holds the strands of DNA together?
Reading List:
1. Hancock, J.T.(1999). Molecular Genetics. Butterwork Heinemann 2nd ed. Pg 9.
2. Sinnot E.W., Dunn, L.C. and Dobzhansky T. (1989). McGraw Hill Ltd. Oykyo pg
370
Weeks 10 and d11: Procaryotic and Eucaryotic chromosome
Objectives:
The main objective is enable students describe the structure of eukaryotic and
prokaryotic chromosomes.
Description:
The chromosomes of viruses and Bacteria, Eucaryotic chromosomes, Genome sizes
for viruses, bacterial and eukaryotes, structure and molecular organization of
eukaryotic chromosomes, types of chromalin and cell cycle.
Study questions:
1. Describe the molecular organization of eukaryotic chromosome.
2. How does heterochromatin differ from euchromalin?
3. What is a bacteriophage?
4. Describe the events that occur in each phase of the cell cycle.
5. What is a nucleosome?
Reading List:
1. Smith-Keary P. (1991). Molecular Genetics Macmillan Educational Ltd. Pg. 31
2. Hartwell, L H. (2000). Genetics: From Gene to Genomes. McGraw Hill
Company pg. 388
Week 12: Probability and Genetic Events.
Objective:
The objective of this lesson is to show the problem of chance in genetics.
Description: The lesson covers definition of probability, Basic laws of probability
‘Goodness of fit’ and determination of ‘Goodness of fit’
Study Questions:
1. For a plant heterozygous for two pairs of alleles (AaBb), what is the probability
that a pollen grain nucleus will contain an A gene?
2. Galactosemia is a recessive human disease. A wife and her husband are both
heterozygous for the galactosemia gene. What is the probability that their child
will have galatosemia?
3. In a cross AaBbCcDd X AaBbCcDd what is the probability of producing a child
that will phenohypiccally resemble either one of the two parents?
Reading List:
1. Olorode, O., Fatunla, T and Adegoke, A.(1978) Introductory Genetics and
Evolution. 1st ed. Academic Press pg 65.
2. Hartwell L.H. 2000 Genetics: From Gene to Genome. McGraw Hill
company pg. 18
Weeks 13 and 14: Concepts of Evolution
Objective: At the end of the lesson, students should know that the development of an
entity in the course of time is through a gradual sequence of changes from a simple to
a more complex state i.e. evolution is the result of the differential survival in each
generation of the progeny of individuals with certain special characteristics.
Description: The lesson covers direct and indirect evidences of evolution, theories of
evolution, Adaptation and Evolutionary patterns.
Study Questions:
1. Give four interrelated processes recognized by synthetic theory of evolution.
2. Discuss the indirect evidences of evolution.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Describe the hypothesis of inheritance of acquired character.
What is the salient point in Darwin’s theory of evolution?
List and explain three types of evolutionary pattern
Differentiate between morphological and physiological adaptation in organism
Reading List:
1. Verma, P.S. and Agarwal V.K. 2010. Cell Biology, Genetics, Molecular Biology,
Evolution and Ecology, S. Chand and Company Ltd. Pg. 1
2. Hartwell, L.H. (2000) Genetics. From genes to genomes. McGrand Hill
Company, pg. 783.
3. Olorode, O. Fatunla, T. and Adegoke, A.(1978). Introductory Genetics and
Evolution. Academic Press. Pg. 201.
Week 15: Origin of Life and Earth.
Objective:
At the end of this lesson, students should know the different theories on the origin of
life and earth.
Study Questions:
1. Describe the origin of the earth
2. Write notes on coacervates
3. Describe the different theories for the origin of life on earth.
Reading List:
1. Verma, P.S. and Agarwal V.K.1 (2010). Cell Biology, Genetics, Molecular
Biology,
Evolution and Ecology, S. Chand and Company Ltd. Pg. 1
2. Hartwell, L.H. (2000) Genetics. From genes to genomes. McGrand Hill
Company, pg. 783.
3. Olorode, O. Fatunla, T. and Adegoke, A.2 (1978). Introductory Genetics and
Evolution. Academic Press. Pg. 201.
4. Baldwin, R.E.(1973) Genetics. 1st ed. John Willey and sons, Jnc. Pg. 136.
5. Hancrek J.T. (1999). Molecular Genetics Butter worth Heinemann 2nd edition pg
86
Legend
1. Available in the University Library
2. Available in the Departmental Library
3. Available on the internet web
4. Available in the bookshops