COURSE OBJECTIVES

Molecular genetics is the field of biology that studies the structure and function of genes at a molecular level and thus employs methods of both molecular biology and genetics. The study of chromosomes and gene expression of an organism can give insight into heredity, genetic variation, and mutations

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES (CLO)

CLO: 1. Comprehend the basic principles of Molecular Genetics [C2-Comprehension]
CLO: 2. Analyze the process and mechanism of transfer of genetic information and evolution [C4-Analysis]
CLO: 3. Demonstrate the techniques used in Molecular Genetics [C3-Analysis]


COURSE CONTENTS

1. Introduction to the course and course objectives o DNA structure o DNA Topology o RNA structure
2. Chromosomes, Chromatin and Nucleosome o Chromosome duplication and Segregation o Nucleosome o Regulation of chromatin structure
3. Replication of DNA o Chemistry of DNA synthesis o The mechanism of DNA Polymerase o The replication fork o Specialization of DNA Polymerase
4. DNA Synthesis at Replication fork o Initiation of Replication o Binding and unwinding o Termination
5. Mutability and Repair of DNA o Replication errors and their DNA Repair o DNA Damage o Repair of damage
6. Homologous Recombination at the Molecular level o Models for homologous recombination o HR-Protein Machine o HR in Eukaryotes o Mating Type Switching o Genetic Consequences of the mechanism of HR
7. Site Specific Recombination and Transposition of DNA o Conservative site specific recombination o Transposition o Examples of Transposible elements and their regulatio
8. Revision o Class discussions and revision of course for midterms
9. Expression of the genome o Mechanism of Transcription o RNA Polymerase and Transcription cycle o Trancription cycle in Bacteria
10. Transcription in Eukaryotes o Preinitiation o Initiation o Transcriptional factors
11. RNA splicing o The chemistry of RNA splicing o The spliceosome machinery o Splicing pathway o Alternative splicing o Exon Shuffling o RNA Editing
12. Translation o Messenger RNA o T RNA o Attachment of Aminoacids to tRNA o The ribosomes
13. Initiation of Translation o Initiation factors o Specialized modifications o Start codon o Eukaryotic initiation
14. Remaining Translation steps o Translation Elongation o TranslationTermination o Translation dependent regulation of mRNa and Protein stability
15. The Genetic Code o Make up of code o Wobble in anticodon o Cracking of codons