Molecular Biology I

Graduate Prerequisites: (METBI203 & METBI206) or consent of instructor. - How cells synthesize biologically important macromolecules (DNA, RNA and proteins), as well as their structure, function and regulation. Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic molecular biology is discussed. Topics include: DNA replication, DNA repair, recombination, prokaryotic transcription, translation, eukaryotic transcription/RNA processing, DNaseI hypersensitive sites, 5-methylcytosine, eukaryotic RNA polymerase structure/CTD modification, eukaryotic promoter structure, general transcription factors, enhancer- promoter loops, histone modification/chromatin remodeling, and non-coding RNA. Discussion of important molecular biological techniques, such as genetic and recombinant DNA techniques, including CRISPR/Cas9. Three hours of lecture, one hour of discussion per week. Pre-requisite: one course above the introductory biology level, such as cell biology, genetics or biochemistry.