genetics 314 – general genetics - 2009 instructor: dr. r.s. zemetra office: ag biotech 111 office...
TRANSCRIPT
Genetics 314 – General Genetics - 2009
Instructor: Dr. R.S. Zemetra
Office: Ag Biotech 111
Office hours: MW 2:30-4:30, F 2:30-3:30
Textbook: Genetics Analysis and Principles 3rd edition by R.J. Brooker
Powerpoint presentations, old exams and exam keys will be available on the web
address:www.webpages.uidaho.edu/
~rzemetra/SWWW
Keys to success in the course:
- Read the textbook before class
- Review powerpoint presentation before class
- Review previous lecture’s notes before class
- Study previous exams
- Ask questions
Grading based on:
- Assignments
- 3 written assignments
- 1 problem set
- Exams
- 4 exams
- Comprehensive final
Written Assignments: 3 – 25 points each- 2 to 3 pages- Topics:
• First: Use of gene therapy in humans, has its time finally arrived?
Due : February 13th
• Second: Larmarck and epigenetics, was Lamarck right after all?
Due: April 3rd• Third: Describe a new way genetics
could be used to address a problem in your field
of interest. Due: May 1st
Problem set:- 25 points- Associated with section 4
Exams- 100 points each
Final Exam- Cumulative- 150 points
Exam schedule:
1st exam – Friday, February 6th
2nd exam – Friday, March 6th
3rd exam – Friday, April 3rd
4th exam – Friday, April 24th
Final – Wednesday, May 13th, 12:30-2:30
Grading
Assignments 100 points
Exams 400 points
Final Exam 150 points
Total 650 points
Final grade based on your total divided by the total number of points.
A = 90% = 585 pointsB = 80% = 520 pointsC = 70% = 455 pointsD = 60% = 390 points
Percentages for each grade may change but only downward (i.e. 89% for an A instead of 90%)
What makes genetics an exciting field to study?
- As a science just over 100 years old
- Discovery of how genetic information is packaged (DNA) occurred just over 50 years ago
- Field of genetics rapidly changing, especially in the area of molecular genetics
New areas of study in genetics:
- genomics
- proteomics
- epigenetics
Why should you understand genetics?
1.
2.
3.
4.
New uses of genetics/genetic tools:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
All of genetics revolves around the gene
- What is it?
- How is it expressed?
- How is it inherited?
- How does the environment influence
expression?
- How does it behave in an:
- individual?
- population?
To answer these questions we will study several areas of genetics:
- Molecular/biochemical genetics
- Microbial genetics
- Cytogenetics
- Qualitative genetics
- Quantitative genetics
- Population genetics
Since the course revolves around the gene, we will start with the gene itself and work our way up.
Molecular
Cytological
Individual
Population
So the first questions that need to be answered are:
- What is a gene?
- What is it made of?
- How does it replicate?
- How is it expressed?
Gene: The fundamental physical unit of heredity whose existence can be confirmed by allelic variants and which occupy a specific gene locus.
A gene is a DNA sequence coding for a single polypeptide, t-RNA or r-RNA.
Question: How is the information carried in a cell?
Characteristics needed of the carrier of genetic information:
- Highly accurate replication
- storage
- transmission
- Large carrying capacity
- Capable of variation
In a eukaryotic cell there were two candidates for the carrier of genetic information:
- proteins
- nucleic acids
- deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
- ribonucleic acid (RNA)
First indirect evidence:
Griffith (1928) – Transformation of Pneumococcus
Two types of Pneumococcus bacteria
- R – rough – non-virulent
- S – smooth - virulent
Bacteria were injected into mice and the mice were then watched to see their reaction:
ExpectedObserved
R
S
S heat-killed
R +heat-killed S
What happened?
Heat-killed S cells transformed R cells
Griffith speculated that the transforming factor was DNA