Born in New Martinsville, WV

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Me
Born in New Martinsville, WV Lived there 15 years.
Undergraduate B.S. from Fairmont University
Graduate Ph.D. from Purdue University
Post-doc at the University of Georgia
Assistant Professor Louisiana State
University August 2008
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Why do I like Genetics?
Primary reason I have an identical twin brother
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My nephew and my son
Riley (my brothers son)
Samuel (my son)
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Intro to Genetics
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• DNA molecules encode the biological information
  fundamental to all life forms
• Proteins are the primary unit of biological
  function
• All living forms are closely related
• Genomes are modular, allowing rapid evolution

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DNA

• DNA is a double stranded helix composed of A-T
  and G-C complementary bases

• Four bases G (guanine), A (adenine), T
  (thymine), and C (cytosine) are the nucleotide
  building blocks of DNA

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Genetic Information is Digital
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• Although DNA is 3-D, information w/in the
  molecule is 1-D and digital
• The sequence of bases in DNA can be read by DNA
  sequencers, stored in computers, and synthesized
  by DNA synthesizers

Fig. 1.3
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Genes are sequences of DNA that encode proteins
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Fig. 1.2
GENE DNA region that encodes proteins EXON
coding region of DNA INTRON non-coding
region of DNA
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Packaging of DNA
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DNA resides in within cells packaged as units
called chromosomes
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• The entire collection of chromosomes in each cell
  of an organism is called a genome
• Humans have 24 chromosomes (why not 23?)
• The human genome has about 3 x 109 base pairs and
  40,000 60,000 genes

Fig. 1.4
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Chromosome pair 23 represents the SEX CHROMOSOMES
Chromosome pairs 1-22 are the AUTOSOMES
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All living things are closely related
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• RNA was probably the first information-processing
  molecule, but RNA is unstable
• RNA is composed of four bases guanine (G),
  adenine (A), cytosine (C), and uracil (U)

Fig. 1.7a
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All living organisms use the same arbitrary codes
for RNA, DNA, and protein
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Fig. 1.7b
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Biological function emerges primarily from
proteins
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Figure 1.5b
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Proteins are polymers of amino acids
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• Proteins have three dimensional structures
• Information in DNA dictates the sequence of its
  amino acids
• There are 20 different amino acids
• The order of amino acids determines the type of
  protein and its structure

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The diversity of protein structure
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Fig. 1.5c
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Many proteins have similar functions in very
different organisms
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Fig. 1.8
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Convergent Evolution
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• The independent development of similar structures
  or capabilities in organisms that are not
  directly related

Streamlined bodies of penguins (bird) versus
dolphins (marine mammal)
Other examples?
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Modular construction of genomes has allowed rapid
evolution of complexity
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• Gene families arise from primordial genes through
  duplication and rearrangements
• Duplication and divergence of new genes can
  generate genes with new functions
• Well examine traits that are controlled by
  multiple genes and single genes (for example)

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Tongue Rolling
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Roller
Non-Roller
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Heterochromia iridis
Mila Kunis
Christopher Walken
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The process of duplication and divergence
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Fig. 1.10
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Duplication and divergence has made rapid
evolution possible
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Genome sequencing projects are a step in
understanding the complexity of genomes
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Fig.1.12
Is there a direct relationship between genome
size or the of genes and evolutionary
complexity?
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Social issues and genetics
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• Should an individuals genetic profiles be freely
  available to insurance companies, employers,
  government?
• Should our government regulate the use of genetic
  and genomic information to reflect societies
  social values?
• Is it okay to permanently alter genes in humans
  for medical or social reasons?

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• Genetics From Genes to Genomes
• 3rd Edition
• Hartwell ? Hood ? Goldberg ? Reynolds ? Silver ?
  Veres

- Read chapters 1 and 2 before Wed. - Begin
working chapter 2 problems 4 37. Bring these
to the Discussion Sections.