Molecular Biology

 

“It has not escaped our notice that the specific pairing we have postulated immediately suggests a possible copying mechanism for the genetic material”

Watson and Crick, Nature 1953

Course policies, assignments, and grading can be found here.


Molecular Biology 312 Fall 2008 Detailed Syllabus


  1. •Visit the Helicase Wiki!

  2. •Paper copy of Syllabus (pdf)


August 26th   Course Introduction: Connecting Genetics and Molecules


  1. •Readings: MBG, Chapter 1

  

August 28th    The Central Dogma

                          

  1. •Readings: MBG, Chapter 2 


September 2nd    DNA Structure and Chemistry

                          

  1. •Readings: MBG, Chapter 3 pp 49-53 (Hydrogen Bonds), chapter summary; Chapter 6 pp 101-116


September 4th   DNA Topology and the Nucleosome

                              

  1. •Readings: MBG, Chapter 6 pp 117-126; Chapter 7 pp 156-164

  2. •Podcast: Chromatin Structure

  3. •MBG website: Animation on Topology

  4. •MBG website: Animation on Topoisomerases

  5. •Problem 1 Due                              


September 9th    DNA Replication: The Replication Fork


  1. •Readings: MBG, Chapter 8 pp 195-230

  2. •Animation: Sliding Clamp

  3. •Animation: DNA Polymerase

  4. •Animation: Helicase

  5. •Animation: The Bacterial Replisome

                           

September 11th    DNA Replication: Origins and Telomeres

                              

  1. •Readings: MBG, Chapter 8 pp 230-256

  2. •MBG website: Animation on Telomerase

                      

September 16th     DNA Repair

                              

  1. •Readings: MBG, Chapter 9 pp 257-281

  2. •MBG website: Animation on MutS

  3. •OMIM: Werner Syndrome, Xeroderma Pigmentosa

  4. •Problem 3 Due


September 18th     Exam I: Genetics and Molecules through DNA Replication


September 23rd    Experts, Intellectual Property, and Creative Commons


September 25th  DNA Recombination: General

                           

  1. •Readings: MBG, Chapter 10 pp 283-317

  2. •Science in the News: BRCA2 and Resistance to Cisplatin

  3. •Double Strand Break Animation


September 30th    DNA Recombination: Site-specific

                          

  1. •Readings: MBG, Chapter 11 pp 319-334

  2. •Site Specific Recombination Animation

  3. •Problem 4 Due


October 2nd   Transcription in Prokaryotes

                                

  1. •Readings: MBG, Chapter 12 pp 377-396

  2. •Problem 5 Due


October 7th   Transcription in Eukaryotes

                       (Last Day Before the Drop Deadline)

  1. •Readings: MBG, Chapter 12 pp 396-414


October 9th   Exam II: DNA Repair through Transcription in Prokaryotes


October 14th  Fall Break 


October 16th    Gene Expression in Prokaryotes

                               

  1. •Readings: MBG, Chapter 16 pp 547-563

  2. •Problem 8 Due

                        

October 21st  Gene Expression in Eukaryotes: Transcription Factors


  1. •Readings: MBG, Chapter 17 pp 589-610


October 23rd    Gene Expression in Eukaryotes: Nucleosomes and Imprinting

                               

  1. •Readings: MBG, Chapter 17 pp 620-631


October 28th    RNA Structure, Ribozymes, and Regulatory RNA

                                   

  1. •Readings: MBG, Chapter 16 pp 127-133

  2. •Readings: MBG, Chapter 18 pp 633-656

  3. •Problem 9 Due

  

October 30th:  Exam III: Transcription in Eukaryotes through Gene Expression


November 6th  RNA Splicing I: The Spliceosome

                      

  1. •Readings: MBG, Chapter 13 pp 415-432

  2. •Problem 6 Due


November 11th  RNA Splicing II: Alternative Splicing

                     

  1. •Readings: MBG, Chapter 13 pp 433-455


November 13th  Translation

                          

  1. •Readings: MBG, Chapter 14 pp 457-501

  2. •Problem 7 Due


November 18th    Molecular Biology Movie Night!


November 20th    Translational Control


  1. •Readings: MBG, Chapter 14 pp 502-519

                         

November 25th     Gene Expression in Eukaryotes: Development and Evolution

                        

  1. •Readings: MBG, Chapter 19 pp 676-701

  2. •Problem 10 Due


December 2nd    Catch-up, Exam Review


December 4th   Exam IV: RNA Structure through Development


December 11h     Final Exam, 12-3 p.m. in Room 239

                  

Instructor: Chris Korey

Course Location: Science Center, Rm239

Time: 12:15 - 1:30 p.m.


Office Hours:  I can usually be found in my office/lab (SCIC 217C) most of the day.  When you have a question or concern, just stop by.  My door is always open.  I will be guaranteed to be in my office between 11am-12pm on Wednesdays.  Feel free to make an appointment if you want to meet at a specific time outside of office hours.  I can’t help you unless you come and discuss questions you may have with me.


Course Goals

1. To give you a solid understanding of the principles underlying the field of Molecular Biology.

2. To explore experimental design, methods, and interpretation of experimental results


Required Readings: Molecular Biology of the Gene, 6th Edition, Watson et. al.


The Helicase Wiki: Our course has a dynamic, community based wiki that will be the hub of our  material review, semester long group project, and general exploration of molecular biology. 


Text Book Website:  This site has online animations and three dimensional protein structures that we will be using in class.  Make sure to register for their website using the access code in your book.

Keep Up With Current Research

The Sounds of Molecular Biology from Molecular Code

Protein Synthesis:

An Epic on the Cellular Level