1. Lecture #1: Introduction to Genetics and Cells
Honors Genetics
Ms. Day

2. What is Genetics?
the study of how genes act to produce characteristics of a living organism.
This course will be divided into 3 areas of study:
molecular genetics
how DNA encodes traits
classical genetics
how traits are inherited
genomics
how all an organism's genes function and interact.

3. Central Dogma of Biology
Where does it all START?
Central Dogma of Biology
TRAIT

4. Did you know?
Scientist named Mendel 1st started studying genetics in 1800’s.
BUT…DNA’s structure was discovered in 1953.
Study of heredity called GENETICS quickly evolved
Discovery of DOUBLE HELIX launched era of Molecular Genetics & Biotechnology 

5. How do scientists study Genetics?
Use MODEL ORGANISMS
An organism whose genetic material has been altered by genetic engineering techniques
Criteria to be a model:
easy to grow
short life cycle
produce many offspring
relatively inexpensive
easy to manipulate/mutate
Used by “KNOCKING OUT” or “TURNING OFF” genes then look for consequences

6. What are some common MODEL organisms?
E. Coli bacteria
Yeast
Nematode (round) worms
called C. elegans
Fruit Fly called Drosophila melanogaster
Common Mouse

7. CELL TYPES Three Basic types of cells include: Animal Cell (Eukaryote)
Plant Cell
(Eukaryote)
Bacterial Cell (Prokaryote)
**SMALLEST

8. I look BIG here, I’m very small (1 cell).
NUMBER OF CELLS
ALL living things are made of cells! organisms may be:
Unicellular – composed of one cell
Multicellular- composed of many cells that may organize into tissues, etc.
I look BIG here, I’m very small (1 cell).

9. MULTICELLULAR ORGANISMS
Cells in multicellular organisms often specialize (take on different shapes & functions)

10. CELL SPECIALIZATION
Cells in a multi-cellular organisms become specialized by turning different genes on and off
This is known as DIFFERENTIATION

11. ALL CELLS… Contain 4 basic cell structures: Cell Membrane Cytoplasm
Ribosomes
DNA

12. PROKARYOTES: THE FIRST CELLS
Simplest and smallest type of cell
Ex: bacteria
NO nucleus
FEW organelles
1 Single, circular chromosome (piece of DNA)

13. THINK: “You carry a lot…of stuff”
EUKARYOTES
All eukaryotic cells HAVE:
a Nucleus
membrane-bound organelles
These cell types includes:
protists
fungi
plants
animals
More complex type of cells
THINK: “You carry a lot…of stuff”