What is Molecular Genetics?
DNA as information and an overview of gene expression. Homology, model species and Boveri’s precondition Handout (pdf of the syllabus in abbreviated form) Hiding DNA in microdots (information in DNA is digital): Hiding messages in DNA microdots Catherine Taylor Clelland, Viviana Risca, and Carter Bancroft Nature 399 ( 6736 ), 533-4 ( 10 Jun 1999 ) Background reading in Chemistry. Chapters 2 and 3 of Alberts Molecular Biology of the Cell. The panels in chapters 2 and 3 are especially good, and you can find them online For example: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov /books/bv.fcgi?rid=mboc4.box .181 Other URLs in the presentation. Course page (I also reviewed the links on the top bar). HA oxidase protein: accession NP_000178 on NCBI, map, Gene Ontology, UniProt, OMIM entry for alkaptonuria and Conserved Domain HgmA.
The molecular genetics major is concerned with current knowledge of the molecular nature of genes, their roles in controlling the function and development of organisms, their inheritance, and their evolution. The research and teaching interests of the faculty range over all areas of genetics as well as molecular, cellular, and developmental biology. The common focus is on the role of genes and the use of molecular and genetic techniques in each of these areas. The goal of molecular geneticists is to get a better understanding of basic biology and to apply that knowledge to practical problems such as medicine, plant and animal breeding, and conservation. The Department of Molecular Genetics emphasizes studies on eukaryotes (animals, plants, fungi, and protists), although most of the basic principles apply to prokaryotes (bacteria) as well. Career Opportunities in Molecular Genetics Molecular geneticists with a BS degree often work as laboratory technicians. They are in demand to work on
Molecular genetics is a sub-discipline of genetics, a field within the biological sciences. Genes are units of heredity, instructions for inherited traits such as hair color, blood type, and predisposition to some diseases. Molecular genetics is concerned with the physical and chemical properties of these genes. Organisms depend on cells to grow and function. Each cell is essentially like a machine, following the instructions of its genes in order to run efficiently. The molecule that makes up genes is called deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which is stored inside the cells of organisms. DNA is a long molecule, coiled tightly into structures called chromosomes. These chromosomes require strong magnification in order to be viewed. When viewed uncoiled, the DNA molecule resembles a twisted ladder, with two interwoven strands called a double helix. DNA’s double helix structure is a huge part of molecular genetics. The field is also concerned with the structure and function of ribonucleic acid
