Listed in: Biochemistry-Biophysics, as BCBP-281 | Biology, as BIOL-251
Formerly listed as: BIOL-25
David I. Ratner (Sections 03 and 04)
(Offered as BIOL 251 and BCBP 281) A study of the molecular mechanisms underlying the transmission and expression of genes. DNA replication and recombination, RNA synthesis and processing, and protein synthesis and modification will be examined. Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems will be analyzed, with an emphasis upon the regulation of gene expression. Application of modern molecular methods to biomedical and agricultural problems will also be considered. The laboratory component will focus upon recombinant DNA methodology. Four classroom hours and four hours of laboratory per week; some laboratory exercises may require irregular hours.
Requisite: BIOL 191 or equivalent. Limited to 30 students. Not open to first-year students. Fall semester. Professor Ratner.
If Overenrolled: preference given to Biology majors
The first meeting of Molecular Genetics will be "Discussion," ie. on Tuesday, Sept. 6, at 1pm in Merrill 4. Subsequent lectures will be at the usual lecture time of 11AM in M3.
DR
The required text is Molecular Biology of the Gene, 6th edition (2008), by Watson, Baker, Bell, Gann, Levine and Losick; and published by Pearson/Benjamin Cummings/CSHL Press. This text will be used all semester and you should own it. I recommend the web materials that accompany the text. This same edition was used last year. If you find a used copy (6th edition), you can still obtain access to the rather good supplementary material on the web--problems, animated mechanisms, and structural data-- by paying a small fee to the publisher.
The other book we'll use, for especially the final quarter of the semester, is Recombinant DNA, Genes and Genomes--a Short Course, 3rd edition (2007). It's by Watson, Caudy, Myers and Witkowski; this paperback is published by WH Freeman and CSHL Press. This text also was used last year, and a used copy will do; or you might share a purchase. Note that several copies of the book will be on reserve in Keefe if you don't want to buy it. I'll assign about 1/4 of the chapters. It's a good read.