BIO 325
Molecular Biology
KING ABDULAZIZ UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Science
Biological Sciences Department
COURSE IDENTIFICATION
Biology 325: Molecular Biology
Spring 2012 Course Syllabus
Instructor: Aala A. Abulfaraj
Email: aaabulfaraj@kau.edu.sa
Phone: 0500547872
Office Hours: 10.00 – 11.00 and 11.00 - 12.00 pm Saturday and Mondays
OR by appointment only.
Meeting: Lecture: Saturdays and Mondays 9.00 – 10.00 a.m.
Lab: Thursdays 9.30- 12.20 p.m.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The goal of this course is to develop a thorough understanding of the basic fundamentals to
modern molecular biology both from the perspective of known molecular mechanisms for
regulating fundamental processes in a cell, and also from a theoretical applied perspective
for using molecular biology as a laboratory tool.
Molecular biology deals with nucleic acids and proteins and how these molecules interact
within the cell to promote proper growth, division, and development. It is a large and everchanging discipline. This course will emphasize the molecular mechanisms of DNA
replication, repair, transcription, protein synthesis, and gene regulation in different
organisms. In addition, we will take an in-depth look at some rapidly evolving fields,
including chromatin structure and function, RNA polymerase dynamics, and regulation of
gene expression by different types of RNAs.
MATERIALS:

Suggested Books:
 Albert et al., (1994). The Molecular Biology of the Cell. Garland Publishing, Inc. New
York
 Karp, (1996). Cell and Molecular Biology, John Wiley and Sons Inc, New York,␣USA
 Lewin's GENES X Author: Krebs ISBN13: 9780763766320

Any other general or introductory Molecular Biology books can be used as references.
Materials will be provided as a power point presentation. Lectures power point slides are
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BIO 325
Molecular Biology
generated from Lewin's GENES X and uploaded to the Molecular Biology website by
Aala A. Abulfaraj which is: https://sites.google.com/a/kau.edu.sa/cell-biology/. I created
this website as a tool for communication between you and me. This website has class
lectures, Lab handouts, Extra reading materials, Grades, and any announcements.

Students should have a binder or file to keep all class materials together and any
notebook for writing additional information mentioned in class. Each student must have
access to the Internet in order to download class materials from the cell biology website
that is created by the instructor. Each student should also check the class website and
her email and phone massages regularly the nigh before class meeting for any update.
ATTENDANCE:
Students are expected to attend all lectures AND BE ON TIME! If you are perpetually late to
this class it may result in the loss of points. If you have a problem with your schedule that
interferes with your being on time to this class, you need to see me. Excuses should be prior
to class in order to be accepted. (You can contact me by either text massage or email)
If you attend fewer than 60% of the course lectures, you will NOT be able to take the final
exam.
COURTESY:
I treat all students with courtesy and respect and expect courtesy and respect in return.
Disrespectful behaviors will NOT be tolerated in my classroom, including, but not limited to:
repeated tardiness, wandering the classroom during lecture, sleeping in class, loud
yawning, texting or taking phone calls, and rude or disruptive comments, to name just a few.
I have no tolerance for rude behavior, and if you display it in my classroom, you will be
asked to leave.
LATE ASSIGNMENTS:
Any homework turned in late will receive a 2-points penalty for every day late. You can turn
in late homework in class. You must be present in class to do in-class activities and essay
questions. There is no opportunity to turn these in late.
EXAMS:
There will be three lecture exams.
If you are not able to attend an exam due to an emergency or illness, you must contact me
PRIOR TO THE EXAM. If you do not contact me before the exam, you will not be able to
make it up. Any missed exams will result in a loss of that exam score from your total score.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY CLASSROOM:



You are responsible for all of the class lecture material (including materials that will
covered in this class other than what in your pp slides).
Additional materials will be providing by posting in the class website.
Study guide will be provided before some exams. This study guide helps you to prepare
for exams.
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BIO 325
Molecular Biology
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY WEBSITE:
Lectures power point slides and any additional course materials will be posted on the
Molecular Biology website. It is the student’s responsibility to print them out and bring them
to class. You are encouraged to review the lecture material prior to class. If you miss a
lecture, you are responsible for getting extra class notes information from your classmate.
GRADES UPDATE:
Grades excel spreadsheet will be posted in the Molecular Biology website. You will be
notified for posting any new update, pp lectures, and assignments by an email. You will
give me a “secret code name” during the first class, to protect your identity. Keep an eye on
this spreadsheet, if a grade is missing or entered incorrectly, see me about it during the next
class meeting. Do not wait until the end of the semester to notify me of any needed changes
to your grade. I will not make any changes to the grade spreadsheet after the Final Exam.
FINAL GRADE:
15 Exam 1
15 Exam 2
10 Project & Attendance
20 Lab
40 Final
READING ASSIGNMNETS:
Additional Articles to Support the Lecture Material will be provided through class website.
There will be a small quiz or graded discussion on each article.
Bonus points are applied and will be announced. However, bonus points MUST be
submitted in their due day. Illnesses excuses and any other excuses ARE NOT
ACCEPTED
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BIO 325
Molecular Biology
COURSE SCHEDULE MODEL
Topic
Review of class requirements and expectations
Introduction: History of Molecular Biology
Genomes and flow of biological information
The nature of Genetic material
DNA as genetic material
Genes and Chromosomes
Chromosome structure and function
The Content and the organization of gnomes
Genes code for proteins
REVISION
Exam I
DNA replication
Recombination and Repair of DNA
Transcription and its regulation
Post-transcriptional processes
RNA processing
REVISION
Exam II
Translation: initiation, elongation and termination
The genetic code and protein structure
Post-translational modifications and targeting tRNA and rRNA processing
Gene regulation
Genomics and Proteomics
Selected techniques in molecular biology
REVISION
Students Presentation- Project
Aala A. Abulfaraj
B.S. Biochemistry from King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
M.S. Biological and Environmental Sciences – Molecular Biology from Troy University, TroyAlabama, USA
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