Genetics 314 – General Genetics - 2009

Instructor: Dr. R.S. Zemetra

Office: Ag Biotech 111

Office hours: MW 2:30-4:30, F 2:30-3:30

Textbook: Genetics Analysis and Principles 3rd edition by R.J. Brooker

Powerpoint presentations, old exams and exam keys will be available on the web

address:www.webpages.uidaho.edu/

~rzemetra/SWWW

Keys to success in the course:

- Read the textbook before class

- Review powerpoint presentation before class

- Review previous lecture’s notes before class

- Study previous exams

- Ask questions

Grading based on:

- Assignments

- 3 written assignments

- 1 problem set

- Exams

- 4 exams

- Comprehensive final

Written Assignments: 3 – 25 points each- 2 to 3 pages- Topics:

• First: Use of gene therapy in humans, has its time finally arrived?

Due : February 13th

• Second: Larmarck and epigenetics, was Lamarck right after all?

Due: April 3rd• Third: Describe a new way genetics

could be used to address a problem in your field

of interest. Due: May 1st

Problem set:- 25 points- Associated with section 4

Exams- 100 points each

Final Exam- Cumulative- 150 points

Exam schedule:

1st exam – Friday, February 6th

2nd exam – Friday, March 6th

3rd exam – Friday, April 3rd

4th exam – Friday, April 24th

Final – Wednesday, May 13th, 12:30-2:30

Grading

Assignments 100 points

Exams 400 points

Final Exam 150 points

Total 650 points

Final grade based on your total divided by the total number of points.

A = 90% = 585 pointsB = 80% = 520 pointsC = 70% = 455 pointsD = 60% = 390 points

Percentages for each grade may change but only downward (i.e. 89% for an A instead of 90%)

What makes genetics an exciting field to study?

- As a science just over 100 years old

- Discovery of how genetic information is packaged (DNA) occurred just over 50 years ago

- Field of genetics rapidly changing, especially in the area of molecular genetics

New areas of study in genetics:

- genomics

- proteomics

- epigenetics

Why should you understand genetics?

1.

2.

3.

4.

New uses of genetics/genetic tools:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

All of genetics revolves around the gene

- What is it?

- How is it expressed?

- How is it inherited?

- How does the environment influence

expression?

- How does it behave in an:

- individual?

- population?

To answer these questions we will study several areas of genetics:

- Molecular/biochemical genetics

- Microbial genetics

- Cytogenetics

- Qualitative genetics

- Quantitative genetics

- Population genetics

Since the course revolves around the gene, we will start with the gene itself and work our way up.

Molecular

Cytological

Individual

Population

So the first questions that need to be answered are:

- What is a gene?

- What is it made of?

- How does it replicate?

- How is it expressed?

Gene: The fundamental physical unit of heredity whose existence can be confirmed by allelic variants and which occupy a specific gene locus.

A gene is a DNA sequence coding for a single polypeptide, t-RNA or r-RNA.

Question: How is the information carried in a cell?

Characteristics needed of the carrier of genetic information:

- Highly accurate replication

- storage

- transmission

- Large carrying capacity

- Capable of variation

In a eukaryotic cell there were two candidates for the carrier of genetic information:

- proteins

- nucleic acids

- deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

- ribonucleic acid (RNA)

First indirect evidence:

Griffith (1928) – Transformation of Pneumococcus

Two types of Pneumococcus bacteria

- R – rough – non-virulent

- S – smooth - virulent

Bacteria were injected into mice and the mice were then watched to see their reaction:

ExpectedObserved

R

S

S heat-killed

R +heat-killed S

What happened?

Heat-killed S cells transformed R cells

Griffith speculated that the transforming factor was DNA