Fundamentals of Molecular Biology

 

DNA : The Molecule of Heredity

Genes, and DNA, Expression of Genetic Information

Recombinant DNA, Detection of Nucleic Acids and Proteins

Gene Function in Eukaryotes, Key Experiment: The DNA Provirus Hypothesis

Molecular Medicine: HIV and AIDS

Genetic traits can be altered by treatment with pure DNA

Transmission of DNA is the link between generations

 

The DNA Structure is a Double Helix Composed of Two Intertwined Strands

In DNA Replication, Each Parental DNA Strand (Template strand) Directs the Synthesis of a New Partner Strand along the old strand :

Semi-conservative Replication

Genes Code for Proteins:

Defects in Enzyme structure result in inborn errors of metabolism ; defective enzyme results from a mutant gene, One of the DNA strands of the double-helix directs the synthesis of a RNA molecule, A RNA molecule directs the synthesis of a polypeptide chain , The genetic code called a codon is a triplet code (three consecutive base on a DNA strand)

Mutation Change Genes

Traits Are Affected by Environments as Well as by Genes

Maternal PKU illustrates the importance role of genes and environment

Continuity of Life with Change Over Time Means Evolution: Unity of life forms at the molecular level results from common ancestry. Natural selection. The diversity of life results mainly from the process of natural selection.

THE CHEMICAL STRUCTURE AND REPLICATION OF DNA

Complex Organisms Generally Have Large Genomes

DNA Is a Linear Polymer of Four Deoxyribonucleotides

Duplex DNA forms a Double Helix Held Together by Hydrogen Bonds

Replication Uses Each DNA Strand as a Template for a New One

Nucleotides are added one at a time to the growing end of a DNA strand

DNA replication is semiconservative: The parental strands remain intact

DNA strands must unwind to be replicated

Eukaryotic DNA molecules contain multiple origins of replication

DNA Polymerase Makes the New DNA Strands

One strand of replicating DNA is synthesized in pieces

DNA is synthesized only in the 5' - 3' direction

Each new DNA strand or fragment is initiated by a short RNA primer

Precursor fragments are joined together when they meet

Many proteins participate in DNA replication

Knowledge of DNA Structure Makes Possible the Manipulation of DNA Molecules

Single strands of DNA or RNA with complementary sequences can hybridize

Restriction enzymes cleave duplex DNA at particular nucleotide sequences

Gel electrophoresis separates DNA fragments by size

Specific DNA fragments are identified by hybridization with a probe

The Polymerase Chain Reaction Makes Possible the Amplification of a Particular DNA Fragment

Chemical Terminators of DNA Synthesis Are Used to Determine the Base Sequence

The incorporation of a dideoxynucleotide terminates strand elongation

Automated DNA sequencing enables whole genomes to be analyzed

Dideoxynucleotide analogs are also used in the treatment of diseases

THE GENETICS OF BACTERIA AND VIRUSES

Much of Our Understanding of Molecular Genetics Comes from Bacteria and Bacteriophages

Transformation Results from the Uptake of DNA and Recombination

In Bacterial Conjugation, DNA Transfer is Unidirectional

A plasmid is an accessory DNA molecule, usually a circle

The F plasmid can integrate into the bacterial chromosome

Chromosome transfer begins at F and proceeds in one direction

Some F plasmids carry bacterial genes

Some Phages Can Transfer Small Pieces of Bacterial DNA

Bacteriophage DNA Molecules in the Same Cell Can Recombine

Bacteriophages form plaques on a lawn of bacteria

Infection with two mutant bacteriophages yields recombinant progeny

Genes are clustered by function in many bacteriophages

Recombination occurs within genes

Lysogenic Bacteriophages Do Not Necessarily Kill the Host

Specialized transducing phages carry a restricted set of bacterial genes

Bacterial Cells Contain Transposable Elements

GENE EXPRESSION

Polypeptide Chains Are Linear Polymers of Amino Acids

The Linear Order of Amino Acids Is Encoded in a DNA Base Sequence

The Base Sequence in DNA Specifies the Base Sequence in an RNA Transcript

The chemical synthesis of RNA is similar to that of DNA

Particular nucleotide sequences define the beginning and end of a gene

Messenger RNA directs the synthesis of a polypeptide chain

RNA Processing Converts the Orginal RNA Transcript into Messenger RNA

Splicing removes introns from the RNA transcript

Many exons code for distinct protein-folding domains

Translation into a Polypeptide Chain Takes Place on a Ribosome

Selection of the initiation codon differs in prokaryotes and eukaryotes

The Genetic Code for Amino Acids Is a Triplet Code

Genetic evidence for a triplet code came from three - base insertions and deletions

Most of the codons were determined from in vitro poypeptide synthesis

Redundancy and near - universality are principal features of the genetic code

An aminoacyl - RNA synthetase attaches an amino acid to its tRNA

Much of the code's redundancy comes from wobble in codon - anticodon pairing

More than one polypeptide can be translated from a messenger RNA in prokaryotes

Genes can sometimes overlap

 

 

GENETIC ENGINEERING AND GENOME ANALYSIS

Cloning a DNA Molecule Takes Place in Several Steps

Restrictions enzymes cleave DNA into fragments with defined ends

Restriction fragments are joined end to end to produce recombinant DNA

A vector is a carrier for recombinant DNA

A variety of strategies can be used to clone a gene

DNA fragments are joined with DNA ligase

A recombinant cDNA contains the coding sequence of a eukaryotic gene

Loss of B - galactosidase activity is often used to detect recombinant vectors

Recombinant clones are often identified by hybridization with a labeled probe

Positional Cloning Is Based on the Location of a Gene in the Genetic Map

Close genetic linkages are often conserved among related species

Reverse Genetics Creates an Organism with a Designed Mutation

Recombinant DNA can be introduced into the germ line of animals

Recombinant DNA can also be introduced into plant genomes

Genetic Engineering Is Applied in Agriculture, Industry, Medicine, and Research

Agricultural corp plants are primary targets of genetic engineering

Specific plant tissues can be targeted for self - destruction

Animal growth rate can be genetically engineered

Engineered microbes can help in the degradation of toxic waste

Recombinant DNA permeates modern biomedical research

The production of useful proteins is a primary impetus for recombinant DNA

Animal viruses may prove useful vectors for gene therapy

Recombinant DNA yields probes for the detection of mutant genes in hereditary disease

An Entire Genome Can Be Physically Mapped and Its DNA Sequence Determined

The smallest complex genomes are about 100 million base pairs

Special conditions allow production and isolation of large DNA fragments

Artificial chromosomes are vectors for large DNA fragments

The landmarks in physical maps range from chromosome bands to DNA sequences

Many Large - Scale DNA Sequencing Projects Are Under Way

The complete sequence of the E.coli genome is known

The yeast genome was the first eukaryotic genome sequenced

The target date for completion of the human genome sequence is 2005

DNA Sequencing Is Highly Automated

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