Universität Wien

300310 UE Plant chromosome analysis (2011S)

Chromosome analysis in flowering plants

3.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 30 - Biologie
Continuous assessment of course work

Termine der Lehrveranstaltung: Vorbesprechung: 4.03. Kurs: voraussichtlich zweite Hälfte März (Block) im Cytogenetics Labor (Dept. für Bot. Systematik und Evolutionsforschung, Rennweg 14, 1030 Wien)

Due to limited number of free places, in case of too many applications priority will be given to the students who took (and graduated) accompanying lecture course ("Plant chromosome evoltuion: from chromosome counting to chromosome painting") in previous years (e.g., SS 2010, VO 300 335), have some theoretical knowledge/practical experience with chromosome analyses, or plan future research (MSc or PhD thesis) in this field.

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 7 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Friday 04.03. 12:00 - 13:00 Übungsraum 3 (Fakultätszentrum für Biodiversität) Rennweg 1.OG

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The practical course presents the methods of chromosome preparation in selected groups of plants, as well as classical and molecular chromosome staining methods. The students learn to perform DNA:DNA in-situ hybridization (FISH), in particular to prepare and label some of the DNA probes (e.g., species-specific repetitive DNA, rDNAs, telomeric sequences), to detect of the hybridization sites (fluorescence) and to analyse the obtained data. The students will acquire practical skills in chromosome handling and learn to analyse and interpret chromosomal data in evolutionary context.

Assessment and permitted materials

Coursework (experiments) 60%
Active participation in experiment planning and results analyses 20%
Written report (in form of manuscript) 20%

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

- To introduce modern techniques used nowadays to study the structuure and function of plant genomes and to emphasize the importance of such analyses as complementary approach for phylogenetic, evolutionary, or populational studies.
- To introduce methods for in situ-hybridization probe preparation and labelling, chromosome preparation and quality checks, and finally in situ hybridization
Students can further apply this knowledge to analyse and to interpret obtained results (microscopy).

Examination topics

- Planning of the experiments; material pre-treatment and fixation; preparation of chromosome spreads using classical methods; documentation.
- Enzymatic chromosome preparations; DNA probe preparation and labelling (PCR labelling, nick translation); preparation of buffers and solutions for FISH.
- Checking of the quality of DNA probe labelling; FISH (fluorescent in situ hybridization) – pretreatments, and hybridization.
- FISH – washing, detection and amplification.
- Analysis of FISH data (microscopy)

Reading list

Maluszynska J. (ed.) 1998. Plant cytogenetics. Silesian University, Katowice, Poland.
Fukui K., and Nakamya S. (1996). Plant chromosomes. Laboratory methods. CRC Press, Boca Raton.
Levin D. A. (2002) The role of chromosomal change in plant evolution. Oxford University Press, New York, USA.
Puertas M.J. & Naranjo T. (eds.) 2005. Plant cytogenetics. Karger, Basel.
Schwarzacher T., and Heslop-Harrison P. (2000) Practical in situ hybridization. 2nd ed. BIOS, Oxford UK.
Singh R.J. (2003) Plant cytogenetics. CRC Press, Boca Raton.
Stebbins G. L. (1971) Chromosomal evolution in higher plants. Edward Arnold, London.
Puertas M.J. & Naranjo T. (eds.) 2008. Plant cytogenetics. Karger, Basel.
Birchler J. & Pires C. (eds) 2010. Advances in Plant Cytogenetics. Karger, Basel.

Association in the course directory

MPF W-1, MEV W-6, MGE III-2

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:43