Molecular Biology

The blueprint of life is believed to be hidden in the nucleotide sequences (language) of DNA. Studying the structure and function of DNA is important in understanding transmission and execution of genetic messages produced from DNA. This course is designed to develop an understanding of the basic principles of modern molecular biology that includes the processes of replication, transcription, and translation. The course will also develop a foundation of understanding of relationship between DNA, RNA, and protein (central dogma of molecular biology). Additional topics include chromatin structure and it's genetic (e g. mutation, recombination), epigenetic changes (methylation), histone modification. Regulation of gene expression in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells (e.g. transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational, post-translational etc.) and it's implication in cell growth and carcinogenesis. The application of principles of molecular biology in designing experiments to address fundamental questions in biology and interpreting experimental data. Students will be introduced with the language of DNA, gene cloning, stem cells and human cloning, the genetic code, causes of genetic disorders, testing for genetic disorders, the human genome project, DNA fingerprinting and forensic medicine, and designing drugs that will be a new challenge of 21st century. Students taking this course for the first time are required to take the lecture and the corresponding lab course concurrently. If the lab or lecture component of the course has been successfully completed previously with a passing and transferable grade or better, then the corresponding lab or lecture course that was not successfully completed previously may be retaken separately.

Fall, Spring

024657