MCB407: Microbial Genetics 6 credits (40-10-10)

Objectives

To provide students with knowledge on gene structure, function and role of genes in development and variations in bacteria and transfer mechanisms.

Contents

Gene location; mitosis and meiosis; the chemical basis of heredity; variations in gene structure, and their role in development. Spontaneous mutability in bacteria; bacteriophage as a genetic system; genetic transfer mechanisms (transformation, conjugation and transduction) as well as extra chromosomal factors (plasmids, episomes, transposomes and colicines); mechanisms of drug resistance in bacteria and recombinant DNA cloning.