Genetics (Molecular) 605

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Unit: Genetics

Big Idea:

Living systems store, retrieve, transmit and respond to information essential to life processes.

Enduring Understanding:

3.A.1: DNA, and in some cases RNA, is the primary source of heritable information.

3.B.1: Gene regulation results in differential gene expression, leading to cell specialization.

3.C.1: Changes in genotype can result in changes in phenotype.

3.C.3: Viral replication results in genetic variation, and viral infection can introduce genetic variation into the hosts.

Required Reading:

Campbell: Chapter 16, 17, 18
ARTICLES/CASE STUDY:

Learning Objectives:By the end of this unit, you should be able to....

1.	Describe in detail, the structure of DNA (double helix, subunits, nitrogenous bases, antiparallel). (Ch 16.1)
2.	Interpret the historical experiments that lead to the knowledge about DNA structure and function: Watson and Crick, Wilkins and Franklin, Avery, MacLeod, McCarthy and Hershey and Chase. (Ch 16.1)
3.	Explain how Hershy and Chase utilize bacteriophages to rule out protein as the molecule that carries genetic material. (Ch 16.1)
4.	Explain the process of replication and the major roles of the enzymes (DNA polymerase, ligase, helicase, and topoisomerase) for replication. (Ch 16.2)
5.	Explain what semi-conesrvative means in DNA replication. (Ch 16.2)
6.	Compare and contrast how replication occurs in the leading strand vs. the lagging strand. (Ch 16.2)
7.	Explain different factors that contribute to the accuracy of the DNA replication process including mismatch repair and nucleotide excision repair. (Ch 16.2)
8.	Explain the significance of telomeres in terms of the replication process and mitosis. (Ch 16.2)
9.	Compare and contrast prokaryotic chromosome vs. eukaryotic chromosome. (Ch 16.3)
10.	Identify the levels of chromosome packing. (Ch 16.3)
11.	Explain "gene expression" and the one gene-one-polypetide hypothesis. (Ch 17.1)
12.	Explain the process of transcription and translation. (Ch 17.1)
13.	Compare and contrast the process of transcription in eukaryotes vs prokaryotes. (Ch 17.1)
14.	Explain how the redundancy in the genetic code is beneficial. (Ch 17.1)
15.	Explain detailed steps (initiation, elongation, and termination) of transcription and the roles of the key players (RNA polymerase, promoter, terminator). (Ch 17.2)
16.	Explain detailed steps (initiation, elongation, and termination) of transcription and the roles of the the key players. (RNA polymerase, transcription factor, promoter, terminator). (Ch 17.2)
17.	Explain the role adding of 5' cap and poly-A tail post transcription. (Ch 17.3)
18.	Describe RNA splicing and the role of spliceosomes and small nuclear RNA (snRNA)in pre-mRNA splicing. (Ch 17.3)
19.	Explain how the one-gene, one polypeptide theory is challenged with the discovery of RNA splicing. (Ch 17.3)
20.	Compare and contrast the roles, function, and locations of tRNA, mRNA, rRNA, snRNA. (Ch 17.4)
21.	Describe and identify the translation initiation complex. (Ch 17.4)
22.	Explain and detailed translation stages using figures in the book. (Ch 17.4)
23.	Compare and contrast the significance of missense mutation, nonsense insertions and deletions. (Ch 17.5)
24.	Explain the three parts of an operon and the importance of regulatory genes. (Ch 18.1)
25.	Compare and contrast repressible and inducible operons. (Ch 18.1)
26.	Explain the importance of DNA methylation and histone acetylation their impact on gene expression. (Ch 18.2)
27.	Identify the transcription initiation complex and its role in gene expression. (Ch 18.2)
28.	Describe the roles of microRNA and small interfering RNAs in controlling gene expression. (Ch 18.3)
29.	Explain the factors and the role of gene regulation that controls cell differentiation and morphogenesis. (Ch 18.4)
30.	Explain the role of oncogenes, proto-oncogenes, tumor-suppressor genes (p53) in cancer formation. (Ch 18.5)

Vocabulary

Below is a list of vocabularyterms used in this unit. By the end of the unit, you will be able to write a working definition of each term and correctly use each term.

double helix	antiparallel	replication
origin of replication	semiconservative	DNA polymerase
leading strand	lagging strand	Okazaki fragments
mismatch repair	nucleotide excision repair	nucleases
helicase	ligase	topoisomerase
telomeres	chromatin	euchromatin
heterochromatin	nucleosomes	gene expression
one gene-one polypeptide hypothesis	transcription	mRNA
RNA processing	translation	triplet code
template strand	codons	RNA polymerase
promoter	terminator	transcription unit
initiation	transcription factor	transcription initiation complex
elongation	termination	5' cap
poly-A-tail	RNA splicing	introns
exons	snRNA	ribozyme
rRNA	anticodon	tRNA
P, A, E sites	nucleotide-pair substitution	missense mutation
nonsense mutation	insertion mutation	deletion mutation
frameshift mutation	mutagens	operons
operator	promoter	genes of the operon
regulatory genes	repressible operons	lac operon
inducible operon	trip operon	differential gene expression
DNA methylation	histone acetylation	epigenetic inheritance
transcription initiation complex	siRNA	miRNA
cell division	cell differentiation	morphogenesis
cytoplasmic determinants	cell-cell signals	density-dependent inhibition
anchorage dependence	transformed	homeotic genes
oncogenes	proto-oncogenes	cancer
tumor-suppressor genes	p53 gene	apoptosis