ILAS Seminar-E2 :Introduction to the biology of nematodes
| Numbering Code | U-LAS70 10002 SE50 | Year/Term | 2022 ・ Second semester |
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| Number of Credits | 2 | Course Type | seminar |
| Target Year | Mainly 1st year students | Target Student | For all majors |
| Language | English | Day/Period | Thu.5 |
| Instructor name | CARLTON, Peter (Graduate School of Biostudies Associate Professor) | ||
| Outline and Purpose of the Course |
This class will introduce to students one of the most abundant forms of life on earth: the Nematodes or roundworms. The most famous of these is the useful model organism called Caenorhabditis elegans. The goal of the class is to provide both a survey of how scientists use these organisms to conduct research, demonstrate the worm's great importance to biology, and provide hands-on experience with simple worm manipulation. Students will also learn directly about some of the current biological questions that are being addressed with this versatile model organism. We will also find wild nematodes around Kyoto, make scientific observations on them and use DNA sequencing to identify their species. Whether we find a new species, or identify new isolates of known ones, this class will introduce you to a new realm of life. 線虫学入門 - 生物学を学びながら新種の線虫を見つけよう! 線虫は動物の中で最も個体数の多い生物種です。線虫は土壌や植物から簡単に見つけることができ、分子生物学における重要なモデル生物の一つでもあります。2002年には、線虫を用いた細胞死の研究に対して、2006年には、線虫におけるRNA干渉の発見に対して、それぞれノーベル賞が贈られています。線虫が持つ遺伝子のうち、６０－７０％は私たち人間にも共通しているため、ヒトにも共通する様々な生体のメカニズムを理解することを目指して、飼育や遺伝子組み換えが容易な線虫が、実験材料として分子生物学では用いられます。 この授業では、各自、サンプルを持参して、そこから線虫を取り、それぞれの線虫のゲノムDNAの一部を増幅し、そのシーケンスを読むことによって、線虫種を同定します。 新種の線虫を発見する可能性もあり！新種の線虫の探索に加えて、分子生物学の研究において一般的に使われている野生株と変異株を用いた遺伝学実験、高解像度顕微鏡を用いた染色体構造の観察も行います。 |
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| Course Goals |
-To understand the biology and diversity of nematodes -To understand the uses of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans in modern biological research -To understand the anatomy and life cycle of C. elegans -To learn how to create new strains containing desired mutations by designing crosses between animals -To acquire the knowledge and experience needed to begin genetic research with C. elegans |
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| Schedule and Contents |
Course Schedule and Contents 1 Overview of the course; nematodes and the place of C. elegans in the tree of life. Set up for worm collection. 2-3 Nematode development, anatomy, and life cycle 4-8 Wild Worms of Kyoto: worm observation and species identification 5 Basic worm genetics: selfing and crossing (with microscopy observation) 6-9 Genetics, meiosis, and sex chromosomes 10 Fluorescence microscopy of worm chromosomes 11-12 Genome sequence of C. elegans and its relatives 13-14 Selected topics in nematode research and application to human health 15. Feedback |
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| Evaluation Methods and Policy | Evaluations will be based on participation, short quizzes, and either a final exam or a term paper. Each area will contribute 1/3rd of the total grade. | ||
| Course Requirements | This is an introductory course. There are no requirements, but a basic familiarity with biology and genetics will be beneficial. | ||
| Study outside of Class (preparation and review) | Students will have to understand technical vocabulary in English. This may require studying outside of class hours. | ||
| References, etc. |
Fay, Starr, Spencer, Johnson『Worm Breeding for Dummies: A guide to genetic mapping in C. elegans』(PDF textbook) |
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