RESEARCH IN MOLECULAR GENETICS BASIC INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE

Concept of Course / “Best way to learn science is by “doing science”

What is the best way to learn piano? / Reading how to play piano in a text book. / Listening to a lecture on playing piano. / Practicing playing piano. / Reading how to play piano in a text book. / Listening to a lecture on playing piano. / Practicing playing piano.

What is the best way to learn how to play baseball? / Studying a book on baseball. / Listening to a lecture on how to play baseball. / Playing baseball / Studying a book on baseball. / Listening to a lecture on how to play baseball. / Playing baseball

Unfortunately, science is a complex subject / It does require learning a lot of facts / Remember science last year? / What you get in school (from 1st grade to 4th year of college) is a recitation of what science has found out. / In essence, you learn the history of science. / It does require learning a lot of facts / Remember science last year? / What you get in school (from 1st grade to 4th year of college) is a recitation of what science has found out. / In essence, you learn the history of science.

Facts important, but not the whole story / Memorizing facts is only a small part of science

By actually “doing science” / You will experience what real science is about. / Truly, know if you like science or not. / You will experience what real science is about. / Truly, know if you like science or not.

Hopefully, you will come to appreciate the: / Beauty / Excitement / Fun / Creativity Of the scientific enterprise / Beauty / Excitement / Fun / Creativity Of the scientific enterprise

Hopefully, by actually “doing science” / You will learn the discoveries of science (the facts) as a by product of your activities / You will see how these facts are applied to real life situations / Thus facts will have a greater depth of meaning and relevance / You will learn the discoveries of science (the facts) as a by product of your activities / You will see how these facts are applied to real life situations / Thus facts will have a greater depth of meaning and relevance

Hopefully, you will also learn that science is a “people” activity / It depends on people trying to persuade one another that they’re right and the other “guy” is wrong.

Hopefully, you will see that science requires: / Practice / Creativity / Intellect / Persuasive ability / Writing skills / Social skills / Much more / Practice / Creativity / Intellect / Persuasive ability / Writing skills / Social skills / Much more

The goals of this course is: / To learn the basic principles of molecular genetics / Learn how science operates / To learn the basic principles of molecular genetics / Learn how science operates

Why is this important? / In the 21st century our ability to manipulate biology will require the public to make momentous decisions. / These decisions should be made from an informed point of view. / In the 21st century our ability to manipulate biology will require the public to make momentous decisions. / These decisions should be made from an informed point of view.

Such decisions may involve / Stem cell research and its applications / Cloning and its applications / Creating designer babies / DNA identification cards / Transgenic organisms / Genetic testing for life and health insurance and job applications / Gene patenting / Stem cell research and its applications / Cloning and its applications / Creating designer babies / DNA identification cards / Transgenic organisms / Genetic testing for life and health insurance and job applications / Gene patenting

Why molecular Genetics? / Foundation of all the biological sciences. / An understanding of genes is central to an understanding of all biology. / All of the various facts that seem to be unrelated in biology can be woven into a coherent whole with molecular genetics as the unifying concept. / Foundation of all the biological sciences. / An understanding of genes is central to an understanding of all biology. / All of the various facts that seem to be unrelated in biology can be woven into a coherent whole with molecular genetics as the unifying concept.

Connecting diverse branches of biology with molecular genetics / Developmental biology-Ultimately is the study of what genes are turned on and what genes are turned off (gene regulation). / Physiology and morphology-Ultimately is the study of what proteins are expressed by genes. / Ecology-Ultimately is the study of genetic changes that allow for adaptation to the environment / Evolution-Ultimately is the study of change in gene frequency in a population over time. / Taxonomy-Ultimately is the study of genetic differences and similarities between species. / Developmental biology-Ultimately is the study of what genes are turned on and what genes are turned off (gene regulation). / Physiology and morphology-Ultimately is the study of what proteins are expressed by genes. / Ecology-Ultimately is the study of genetic changes that allow for adaptation to the environment / Evolution-Ultimately is the study of change in gene frequency in a population over time. / Taxonomy-Ultimately is the study of genetic differences and similarities between species.

Definition of molecular genetics / The study of the biological molecules that pass information from generation to generation. / It involves the study of the structure and activity of the genetic material at the molecule level. / The major biological molecules involved are DNA and proteins. / The study of the biological molecules that pass information from generation to generation. / It involves the study of the structure and activity of the genetic material at the molecule level. / The major biological molecules involved are DNA and proteins.

Activities of genetic material / It makes copies of itself-DNA replication (involves DNA and proteins) / Genes are turned on and off as needed- transcription and translation (involves nucleic acids and proteins) / Changes in DNA-mutations / Products of genes-phenotype (involves nucleic acids, protein structure and function) / It makes copies of itself-DNA replication (involves DNA and proteins) / Genes are turned on and off as needed- transcription and translation (involves nucleic acids and proteins) / Changes in DNA-mutations / Products of genes-phenotype (involves nucleic acids, protein structure and function)

Structure of genetic material / Chromosome-is the structure that contains the genetic material that is passed from generation to generation. / Consists of one long DNA molecule and proteins. / Chromosome-is the structure that contains the genetic material that is passed from generation to generation. / Consists of one long DNA molecule and proteins.

Relationship between chromosome,DNA, and gene / Chromosome-structure within cell that contains the genetic material as threadlike DNA surrounded by proteins / DNA-A nucleic acid molecule that contains the genetic information. / Gene-Segment of DNA (on a specific site on a chromosome) that is responsible for the physical and inheritable characteristics (trait) of an organism usually by specifying a protein. / Chromosome-structure within cell that contains the genetic material as threadlike DNA surrounded by proteins / DNA-A nucleic acid molecule that contains the genetic information. / Gene-Segment of DNA (on a specific site on a chromosome) that is responsible for the physical and inheritable characteristics (trait) of an organism usually by specifying a protein.

Closer look at gene on DNA

More detailed look at gene and DNA