Numbering Code	U-LAS14 20049 LE68	Year/Term	2022 ・ First semester
Number of Credits	2	Course Type	Lecture
Target Year	Mainly 1st & 2nd year students	Target Student	For all majors
Language	English	Day/Period	Tue.2
Instructor name	CARLTON, Peter (Graduate School of Biostudies Associate Professor)
Outline and Purpose of the Course	DNA contains all the information needed to build complex organisms from a single cell. Inside cells, DNA is packaged into discrete bodies called chromosomes. Since chromosomes are carriers of information, but are also large structures that must interact with the cell, they are at the center of connections between many diverse biological fields: genetics, cell biology, and bioinformatics. This class will give students a basic introduction to the fascinating world of chromosome biology. Among other areas, students will gain an understanding of: - what chromosomes are - how DNA is packaged inside them - how chromosomes replicate and divide - how problems with chromosomes can lead to disease. This introductory class is also intended to give students a foundation for further studies of genetics and genomics. Additionally, this class will be taught in English, providing students a chance to master English reading comprehension of common biological concepts.
Course Goals	-To understand the central importance of chromosomes in biology -To explain the levels of chromosome organization, from the structure of DNA to large-scale folding of chromosomes -To understand how chromosomes are transmitted from one generation to the next, i.e., the fundamentals of genetics and heredity -To understand how problems with chromosome maintenance can lead to disease -To understand how researchers can visualize, isolate, and study chromosomes
Schedule and Contents	1. Overview of the course; human chromosomes and chromosome disorders - we will understand how many chromosomes humans typically have, and what kind of disorders occur from having a different number of chromosomes. 2. Small-scale structure of chromosomes: DNA and nucleosomes - we will learn about the physical properties of the DNA double helix, and how it associates with proteins called histones. 3. Large-scale structure of chromosomes, chromosome condensation and cohesion - we will understand how DNA is packaged inside the nucleus by active reorganization of higher-order structure, and how chromosomes condense in preparation for division. 4. How chromosomes behave during cell division - we will learn more about cell division from the chromosome perspective, and understand how chromosomes are accurately partitioned between daughter cells. 5. Chromosomes and the cell nucleus - we will explore the organelle called the nucleus, present in every eukaryote. We will understand the structure of the nuclear envelope and nuclear pores, and learn how DNA is organized inside the nucleus during interphase. 6. Sex chromosomes - we will learn about the many different ways in which chromosomes can determine sexual development, and understand the problems presented by having different types of chromosomes among members of the same species, and how these problems are solved. 7. Meiosis introduction: how sex creates diversity - we will learn about the special cell division called meiosis, which creates haploid gametes (sperm, eggs, pollen, spores, etc) from diploid germ cells. 8. Meiosis part 2: Control of chromosome pairing - we will understand how difficult the problem of homologous chromosome pairing during meiosis is, and some molecular mechanisms that organisms use to make the problem easier. 9. Meiosis part 3: Meiotic recombination - we will understand how DNA molecules are cut and re-joined to create new chromosomes from the original parent chromosomes, and why this is essential to the meiotic cell divisions. 10. Chromosome evolution - we will study examples of how chromosomes have changed over time, in both the human lineage as well as in nematode worms, and understand the importance of chromosome number for speciation 11. Chromosomes and genome sequence - we will examine the genome sequence of several organisms and see directly the relationship between DNA and chromosomes 12. Chromosome structure from sequence data - we will examine the methods called "HiC" and "DamID" to understand how sequencing of large numbers of DNA molecules from cells can help us understand the structure of chromosomes 13. Chromosome diversity: a survey of unusual and fascinating chromosome variations - we will examine a diverse sampling of organisms to see how many different ways there are of packaging DNA into chromosomes 14. The current frontier of chromosome biology - we will look at recent advances in our understanding of chromosomes from results that have appeared in the literature over the past 6 months 15. Feedback (review of the final exam, Q&A session)
Evaluation Methods and Policy	Grading will be based on three areas: active participation, quizzes, and a final exam. "Active participation" will be measured by: class attendance, asking questions/giving comments on PandA (as a rule, each student should ask at least 1 question/give one comment on PandA for each class), and answering questions during in-person classes. Quizzes: short homework assignments. 3 will be given in total, at week 4, 8, and 12 of the class. The final exam will be a 3-page exam with short answers, multiple choice questions, and a short English writing assignment. Each area will contribute 1/3rd of the total grade.
Course Requirements	The course is open to all students, but a background in biology is highly recommended.
Study outside of Class (preparation and review)	For some students, the material will be familiar, but the English vocabulary will be new. For other students, both the content and the vocabulary will be new; for these students, this class may require extensive out-of-class study.