Molecular Biology

Course Description

An introduction to molecular biology focusing on gene structure, organization, regulation and expression. Topics in genetic engineering and genome evolution are covered, as well as DNA replication, recombination, transcription and post-transcriptional mechanisms in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells.

Learning Outcomes

  • Describe genes, chromatin and chromosomes, with emphasis on genome sequences and gene numbers, as well as genome evolution.
  • Explain DNA replication and recombination with emphasis on bacterial replication, and homologous and site-specific recombination.
  • Discuss prokaryotic and eukaryotic transcription and translation while dwelling on RNA splicing and processing and RNA stability and localization.
  • Differentiate between negative and positive regulation of a gene with emphasis on the lac operon in prokaryotes.
  • Describe various RNA regulators such as MicroRNAs and RNA interference (RNAi).

Prerequisites

Corequisite

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