Biology 398C: Cell and Molecular Biology

William Terzaghi

TENTATIVE Schedule- Spring 2009

Jan          12 -16  General introduction, heterosis, genome projects; bioinformatics            

                  19 -23  Biochemical pathways, plant yield, AraCyc, primer design

                    Assignment: identify a gene and design primers to amplify a probe       

                  26 -30  DNA analysis: cloning, libraries, Southerns, PCR, DNA fingerprinting, sequencing

FEB          2 -6    parent of origin effects: nuclear vs organelle genomes & imprinting                    

                              Assignment: presentation on a new sequencing technology

                  9 -13  cloning details: vectors, a-complementation, blue-white, verifying clones

                  16 -20  transformation, stem cells, transgenic organisms, cloning organisms

                              Assignment: designing a protocol to verify your clone

                  23 -27  transcription, processing, translation, protein folding & targeting

MAR        2 - 6   Spring Break

                  9-13   gene regulation, techniques for studying gene regulation

                  16-20   whole genome analyses of transcription & chromatin modification

                  23-27   RNomics

                              Assignment: poster for PAS

                  30-A3  proteomics, metabolomics

APR          6 -8     genetic engineering for improving agriculture & human health

                  10 - 13 Easter Break

                  15 - 17 processing & analyzing real-time PCR and microarray data

                              Assignment: final report on your genes

                  20 -24  molecular biology & medicine

                              Assignment: draft of formal report

                  27-29   Summing up

                              Assignment: presentation on using mol bio to improve our lives

MAY        8          formal reports due

 

Tentative Lab Schedule

Jan            15        Bioinformatics/data base queries

                 22        Candidate identification, primer design

                 29        Rice DNA extraction and quantitation

Feb            5        PCR

                  12        Cloning PCR amplicons

                  19        miniprep and clone verification

                  26        Sequencing clones

Mar           5        Spring break

                  12        Southern blots, RNA extraction & quantitation

                  19        Rice high molecular wt Northerns

                  26        Developing rice high molecular wt and running low MW Northerns

Apr           2        Developing rice low MW Northerns and RT-PCR

                  9        Easter Break

                  16        Real-time PCR, extracting proteins & running Westerns

                  23        Developing Westerns & spotting microarrays

                  28        Hybridizing & developing microarrays