Description
Part one of a two-part course in molecular genetics, this semester emphasizes molecular mechanisms as they apply to prokaryotic organisms. Lectures will begin with a general review of genetics and cell biology, cover basic techniques used in molecular biology research, and then detail the processes of DNA replication and transcription in prokaryotes. They will explore controversial issues as they relate to molecular genetics and present their findings using various formats such as position papers, online threaded discussions, podcasts, and poster displays. In the laboratory portion of this course, students will use restriction endonucleases to clone specific genes from bacterial DNA. They will demonstrate their success through restriction mapping, gene-specific PCR, and gene expression. Prerequisite: C- or better in BIO 231.