Fall 2011

Molecular Genetics

Listed in: Biochemistry-Biophysics, as BCBP-281  |  Biology, as BIOL-251

Formerly listed as: BIOL-25

Faculty

David I. Ratner (Sections 03 and 04)

Description

(Offered as BIOL 251 and BCBP 281) A study of the molecular mechanisms underlying the transmission and expression of genes. DNA replication and recombination, RNA synthesis and processing, and protein synthesis and modification will be examined. Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems will be analyzed, with an emphasis upon the regulation of gene expression. Application of modern molecular methods to biomedical and agricultural problems will also be considered. The laboratory component will focus upon recombinant DNA methodology. Four classroom hours and four hours of laboratory per week; some laboratory exercises may require irregular hours.

Requisite: BIOL 191 or equivalent. Limited to 30 students. Not open to first-year students.  Fall semester. Professor Ratner.

BIOL 251 - LEC

Section 03
M 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM MERR 3
W 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM MERR 3
F 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM MERR 3

Section 04
M 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM MERR 3
W 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM MERR 3
F 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM MERR 3

BIOL 251 - DIS

Section 03
Tu 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM MERR 4

Section 04
Tu 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM MERR 4

BIOL 251 - LAB

Section 03
W 02:00 PM - 06:00 PM MCLS 432

Section 04
Th 02:00 PM - 06:00 PM MCLS 432

This is preliminary information about books for this course. Please contact your instructor or the Academic Coordinator for the department, before attempting to purchase these books.

Section(s) ISBN Title Publisher Author(s) Comment Book Store Price
All Molecular Biology of the Gene (6th ed.) Benjamin Cumming, 2007 Watson Amherst Books TBD
All Recombinant DNA (3rd ed.) W. H. Freeman, 2006 Watson Recommended Amherst Books TBD

These books are available locally at Amherst Books.

Offerings

2024-25: Not offered
Other years: Offered in Fall 2008, Fall 2010, Fall 2011, Fall 2013, Fall 2015, Fall 2016, Fall 2017, Fall 2018, Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Fall 2021

First Meeting

Submitted by David I. Ratner on Wednesday, 8/31/2011, at 2:17 PM

The first meeting of Molecular Genetics will be "Discussion," ie. on Tuesday, Sept. 6, at 1pm in Merrill 4.  Subsequent lectures will be at the usual lecture time  of 11AM in M3.

DR

Class Texts

The required text is Molecular Biology of the Gene, 6th edition (2008), by Watson, Baker, Bell, Gann, Levine and Losick; and published by Pearson/Benjamin Cummings/CSHL Press.  This text will be used all semester and you should own it.  I recommend the web materials that accompany the text.  This same edition was used last year.  If you find a used copy (6th edition), you can still obtain access to the rather good supplementary material on the web--problems, animated mechanisms, and structural data-- by paying a small fee to the publisher.   

The other book we'll use, for especially the final quarter of the semester, is Recombinant DNA, Genes and Genomes--a Short Course, 3rd edition (2007). It's by Watson, Caudy, Myers and Witkowski; this paperback is published by WH Freeman and CSHL Press.  This text also was used last year, and a used copy will do; or you might share a purchase.  Note that several copies of the book will be on reserve in Keefe if you don't want to buy it.   I'll assign about 1/4 of the chapters.  It's a good read.