Biology 407

Principles of Molecular Biology

General Information

• Instructor: Dr. H. Gert de Couet (Edm 353, 956-9686)
• Textbook: Molecular Cell Biology (2nd edition) by J. Darnell, H. Lodish and D. Baltimore, 1990. Additional Readings:
  • Genes IV by B. Lewin, 1987.
  • Molecular Biology of the Gene (4th ed) by J.D. Watson, N.H Hopkins, J. W. Roberts, J. A. Steitz and A. M. Weiner, 1987.
• Note: This course substitutes for Biology 317 (which no longer exists).

Lecture Topics

• The molecules of life - introduction to the course and the topics
• Chemical bonds, reactions and reaction equilibrium. Organic compounds of biological importance and their reactions
• Proteins: classes of amino acids, the peptide bond
• The three-dimensional structure of proteins
• Enzymatic catalysis
• Posttranslational modifications of proteins, Golgi apparatus, blood groups
• Tools to study proteins: purification, gel filtration, ultracentrifugation
• Immunological techniques, protein sequencing
• Other cellular organic compounds: lipids, carbohydrates
• Nucleic acids: cellular distribution, composition, chemical properties
• Nucleic acids: secondary structure, reassocation kinetics, hybridization
• Supramolecular organization and characterization of DNA
• Secondary modification of nucleic acids, restriction enzymes and genome maping, the Southern blot
• DNA as the genetic material
• Exam 1
• DNA replication (2X)
• DNA replication: properties of polymerases
• The cellular organization of DNA. Chromosomes, telomeres, centromeres
• In vitro manipulation of nucleic acids: recombinant DNA and genetic engineering
• Gene libraries, chromosomal walking, artificial chromosomes
• DNA sequencing
• The genetic code
• The mutability and repair of DNA
• The message in action: Transcription (4X)
• Translation (2X)
• Exam 2
• The control of gene expression: prokaryotes. The lac operon, polycistronic messages. Positive control, catabolite activation, gal operon, attenuation
• The control of gene expression: the lambda life cycle. Lysogeny
• Recombination I. Horizontal gene transfer. Transformation, transduction, conjugation
• Recombination II. Site specific recombination. Genome mapping
• Recombination III. Correlating physical and genetic maps
• Recombination IV. Mobile elements, selfish DNA. Retroviruses. AIDS
• The molecular anatomy of eukaryotic genes
• The molecular basis of development (2X)
• Cancer and oncogenesis
• Molecular evolution
• The future and limitations of genetic engineering