PRINCIPLES OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY SYLLABUS
Biol 318 –Fall 2010
Instructor:
Dr. Diane Caporale
Office:
437 TNR Building
Phone:
(715) 346-3922
Website: http://www.uwsp.edu/biology/faculty/DCaporal
E-mail:
dcaporal@uwsp.edu
Office Hours:
Mon & Wed: 1-2 pm
(or by appointment)
Required Text: 1) Weaver, R.F. 2007. Molecular Biology, 4th ed. For rent in bookstore.
2) Biol 318 Lecture Guide. For purchase in Biology Dept's Main Office, TNR 167 ($36)
Class Meetings: Mon, Wed, Fri: 11:00-11:50 am; SCI A208
Exam Times: Fridays: Check schedule for specific dates; exams typically take 1 1/2 hr,
time reserved 10:30-12:30
Course Objective: To study gene structure, function, and control at the molecular level.
Molecular techniques used to analyze nucleic acid and protein activity and diversity are
discussed.
Grading: There are five (5) lecture exams, which are in short answer / essay format.
Assignment
Points (%) Worth
5 Exams
20% each
Your final letter grade is calculated as follows: out of 100 pt.
A = 92.5-100
A- = 89.5-92.4
B+ = 87.5-89.4
B = 82.5-87.4
B- = 79.5-82.4
C+ = 77.5-79.4
C = 72.5-77.4
C- = 69.5-72.4
D+ = 67.5-69.4
D = 60.0-67.4
F = < 60.0
Attendance Policy: I strongly recommend you attend every lecture. Missing any class will put you
at a distinct disadvantage when test taking. Students who must miss an exam due to religious
observances or participation in university-sanctioned events should notify me within the first 3
weeks of the beginning of class, so makeup arrangements can be made. The only other valid
excuses for missing an exam are: death in the family, violent illness, or accident. In such cases:
(1) you must provide evidence of some kind (eg. note from health center), and (2) you must
reschedule within 24 hours after the deadline.
Academic Misconduct: You are responsible for the honest completion and representation of your work
and for the respect of others’ academic endeavors. Any act of cheating, plagiarism, or academic
misconduct is subject to the penalties outlined in UWS Chapter 14. Please refer to this link for more
information: http://www.uwsp.edu/comm/wdeering/plag.pdf
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LECTURE SCHEDULE
Week
Date
Topic
(Ch)
Slides
1
Sept 3
Syllabus /Molecular Biology Timeline/DNA as Genetic Material
DNA Structure & Nucleosomes
1
1,2
1:1-6
1:7-2:9
2
8
10
13
15
17
20
22
24
27&29
Oct 1
4
6
8
11
13
15
18
20
22
25
27
29
Nov 1
3
5
8
10
12
15
17
19
22
24&26
29
Dec 1
3
6
8
10
13
15
17
Chromatin Folding/Organization
Complexity of Euk. Genomes & DNA Replication Overview
Details of DNA Replication
Termination of Replication & Alternate Forms of Replication
DNA Damage & Repair
DNA Damage & Repair
PCR & Applications
EXAM I: (Timeline to DNA Repair); 10:30am-12:30pm
NO LECTURE BOTH DAYS!!!
DNA Fingerprinting & Applications
DNA Sequencing & Applications
Molecular Cloning
DNA Libraries & Hybridization
Transgenics
Plant Genetic Engineering, Stem Cells & Human Gene Therapy
Overview of Prokaryotic Transcription & Translation
Protein Function & Structure
Prokaryotic Transcription: Initiation
EXAM II: (PCR to Protein Structure); 10:30am-12:30pm
Prok. Transcription: Elongation & Termination
Prok. Transcriptional Control: Lac Operon
Ara Operon & Trp Operon
Lambda Phage: Control of Lytic Cycle
Lambda Phage: Control of Lysogenic Cycle
Eukaryotic Transcription: RNA Polymerases & Class II Promoters
Euk. Transcription: Class I & III Promoters & Transcription Factors
Euk. Transcription Activators
EXAM III: (Transcription to Transcription Factors); 10:30am-12:30pm
Post-Transcription: Intron Splicing
Post-Transcription: Alternativee Splicing and Capping
Post-Transcription: Polyadenylation, rRNA & tRNA Processing
mRNA Trans-splicing, Editing, & Stability
THANKSGIVING BREAK!!
Ribosome & tRNA Structures
Translation: Initiation
EXAM IV: (Activators to tRNA); 10:30am-12:30pm
The Genetic Code
Translation: Elongation&Termination
Recombination: Immunoglobulin Genes
Transposition
Genomics & Bioinformatics
EXAM V: (Translation to Bioinformatics); 10:15am-12:15pm
13
13,20
20
21
20
20
4
5
5
4
4,5
5
4
3
3
6
6,7
7
7
8
8
10
10,11
12
14
14,15
15,16
16
19
17
18
18
23
23
24
13:10-19
13:20-20:11
20:12-25
21:6-39
20:1-14
20:15-28
4:1-15
Ch1,2,13,20
5:1-10
5:11-29
4:16-27
4:28-5:35
5:36-45
4:34-5:52
3:1-10
3:11-21
6:1-13
Ch3,4,5
6:14-7:3
7:4-15
7:16-28
8:1-11
8:12-17
10:1-11
10:12-11:9
12:1-13
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
(Final)
Ch6,7,8,10,11
14:1-12
14:13-15:5
15:6-16:5
16:6-19
19:1-12
17:1-13
Ch12,14.15,16,19
18:1-11
18:12-26
23:1-15
23:16-29
24:1-11
Ch17,28,23,24