Title: RESEARCH IN MOLECULAR GENETICS
1RESEARCH IN MOLECULAR GENETICS
- BASIC INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE
2Concept of Course
- Best way to learn science is by doing science
3What is the best way to learn piano?
- Reading how to play piano in a text book.
- Listening to a lecture on playing piano.
- Practicing playing piano.
4What is the best way to learn how to play
baseball?
- Studying a book on baseball.
- Listening to a lecture on how to play baseball.
- Playing baseball
5Unfortunately, science is a complex subject
- It does require learning a lot of facts
- Remember science last year?
- What you get in school (from 1st grade to 4th
year of college) is a recitation of what science
has found out. - In essence, you learn the history of science.
6Facts important, but not the whole story
- Memorizing facts is only a small part of science
7By actually doing science
- You will experience what real science is about.
- Truly, know if you like science or not.
8Hopefully, you will come to appreciate the
- Beauty
- Excitement
- Fun
- Creativity
- Of the scientific enterprise
9Hopefully, by actually doing science
- You will learn the discoveries of science (the
facts) as a by product of your activities - You will see how these facts are applied to real
life situations - Thus facts will have a greater depth of meaning
and relevance
10Hopefully, you will also learn that science is a
people activity
- It depends on people trying to persuade one
another that theyre right and the other guy is
wrong.
11Hopefully, you will see that science requires
- Practice
- Creativity
- Intellect
- Persuasive ability
- Writing skills
- Social skills
- Much more
12The goals of this course is
- To learn the basic principles of molecular
genetics - Learn how science operates
13Why is this important?
- In the 21st century our ability to manipulate
biology will require the public to make momentous
decisions. - These decisions should be made from an informed
point of view.
14Such decisions may involve
- Stem cell research and its applications
- Cloning and its applications
- Creating designer babies
- DNA identification cards
- Transgenic organisms
- Genetic testing for life and health insurance and
job applications - Gene patenting
15Why molecular Genetics?
- Foundation of all the biological sciences.
- An understanding of genes is central to an
understanding of all biology. - All of the various facts that seem to be
unrelated in biology can be woven into a coherent
whole with molecular genetics as the unifying
concept.
16Connecting diverse branches of biology with
molecular genetics
- Developmental biology-Ultimately is the study of
what genes are turned on and what genes are
turned off (gene regulation). - Physiology and morphology-Ultimately is the study
of what proteins are expressed by genes. - Ecology-Ultimately is the study of genetic
changes that allow for adaptation to the
environment - Evolution-Ultimately is the study of change in
gene frequency in a population over time. - Taxonomy-Ultimately is the study of genetic
differences and similarities between species.
17Definition of molecular genetics
- The study of the biological molecules that pass
information from generation to generation. - It involves the study of the structure and
activity of the genetic material at the molecule
level. - The major biological molecules involved are DNA
and proteins.
18Activities of genetic material
- It makes copies of itself-DNA replication
(involves DNA and proteins) - Genes are turned on and off as needed-transcriptio
n and translation (involves nucleic acids and
proteins) - Changes in DNA-mutations
- Products of genes-phenotype (involves nucleic
acids, protein structure and function)
19Structure of genetic material
- Chromosome-is the structure that contains the
genetic material that is passed from generation
to generation. - Consists of one long DNA molecule and proteins.
20Relationship between chromosome,DNA, and gene
- Chromosome-structure within cell that contains
the genetic material as threadlike DNA surrounded
by proteins - DNA-A nucleic acid molecule that contains the
genetic information. - Gene-Segment of DNA (on a specific site on a
chromosome) that is responsible for the physical
and inheritable characteristics (trait) of an
organism usually by specifying a protein.
21Closer look at gene on DNA
22More detailed look at gene and DNA