Genetics of Animal Viruses
This course includes lectures and readings related to the basic principles of viral genetics. The approach is phenomenological with specific examples drawn from the various animal viral genetic systems. Phage systems are discussed when their properties uniquely illustrate the approach to a problem. The general topics are listed in the table below. The use of viral mutants as a tool to dissect biochemical events and to investigate the basic biology of animal viruses is emphasized. (Odd years, Term 4)
Lecture |
LectureTopic(s) |
Lecturer |
1 |
History - Consider Crick, Barnett, Brenner & Towbin-Watts, Nature (Lond) 192: 1227-1232, 1961 as example inductive reasoning | Ramig |
2 |
Mutation I: Spontaneous mutation, induced mutation | Ramig |
3 |
Mutation II: Engineered mutation (biological activity of clones sequences, in vitro mutagenesis, introduction of mutated sequences into viral genomes | Ramig |
4 |
Mutation III: Types of mutations and their use in molecular analyses (mutation types, reversion, suppression, heterozygosis) | Ramig |
5 |
Non-genetic interactions that affect phenotype (phenotypic mixing, interference, defectiveness, integration) | Ramig |
6 |
Recombination mechanisms (“intramolecular recombination, copy-choice recombination, reassortment) | Ramig |
7 |
Mapping mutations and genes I: (recombination mapping, reassortment mapping) | Ramig |
8 |
Mapping mutations and genes II: (molecular methods, genetic rescue, transcriptional and translational mapping of genomes) | Ramig |
9 |
Student Presentations of Papers | -- |
10 |
Approaches to gene function I: (complementation, complementation using cloned sequences) Take-Home Midterm Exam passed out at end of lecture | Ramig |
11 |
Approaches to gene function II: (transfection, viral vectors, expression in heterologous systems, interfering gene products for analysis of gene function. Take-Home Midterm Turned In at beginning of Lecture | Ramig |
12 |
Genetic structure of viral chromosomes (circularity, redundancy, permutation, problems at chromosomal ends) | Ramig |
13 |
Reverse genetics in RNA genome viruses (systems allowing genetic engineering of viable RNA viruses) | Ramig |
14 |
RNA viruses as a problem in population genetics (quasi-species, finess, genetic bottle-necks, etc.) | Ramig |
15 |
Genetics as a probe of viral virulence and pathogenesis (use of virulence and pathogenic phenotypes as genetic markers) | Ramig |
16 |
Student Presentations of Papers | -- |
17 |
In Class Final Exam | -- |