521-302 Gene Structure and Expression

Credit Points:

When taken from Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science:

10.0

When taken from Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Horticulture:

8

Coordinator:

Prerequisite/s:

Timetable:

Contact:

Objectives:

By the end of the program the student should have developed:

• a detailed understanding of current concepts concerning the molecular bases of genome structure, gene structure and gene expression and the regulation of gene expression in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms;

• an appreciation of the molecular aspects of evolution;

• a theoretical background to the major techniques used in recombinant DNA technology and an appreciation of their biomedical and biotechnological applications;

• the ability to read critically the original scientific literature in the field.

Content:

Topics using examples from both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Structure of genes and chromosomes; molecular aspects of transcription and mRNA maturation. Regulation of gene expression at the transcriptional and translational levels. Post-translational modification of proteins. Re-arrangements of the genome. Structure, function and regulation of immuno-globulin genes and proto-oncogenes. Molecular aspects of evolution. Recombinant DNA technology in the study of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems. Recombinant protein expression systems with particular reference to investigations of the physiological role of eukaryotic genes based on transfected cell culture systems.

Assessment:

Prescribed Texts:

• Darnell J et. al., Molecular Cell Biology, 2nd ed. 1990 Sci.Amer.Books.
  or
  Lewin, B., Genes V, 1994 Oxford University Press. Access to both of these texts is desirable.