COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course deals with molecular mechanisms of biological information content. Specifically, the course will tackle the question of how the information contained within DNA, RNA, and chromatin is stored and used in different biological contexts. The major focus is on the molecular mechanisms of the regulation of gene expression and their impact on cellular functions. Students will learn how to critically think about interpreting and designing experiments. Topics include: the genome and DNA, the biochemistry of DNA transcription into RNA, biochemistry of chromatin and the histone code, regulation of transcription and of chromatin structure, its modification and role in epigenetic phenomena; metabolism of the major cellular classes of RNA, emphasizing transcription, processing, stability/degradation, and translation of messenger RNA into protein and control at each of these steps; the role of RNA-mediated catalysis in biology and evolution; the biology and biochemistry of non-coding RNA and the use of RNAi as an experimental and therapeutic tool.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Biological Information, i.e. DNA, RNA, Chromatin, Translation, other information stores.

REQUIRED MATERIALS: Computer.

PREREQUISITES/BACKGROUND PREPARATION: Undergraduate course in molecular biology at the level of Alberts Molecular Biology of the Cell” and the 1st Block Biochemistry course. Students should be familiar with nucleic acid structure, college-level genetics, graduate biochemistry level protein structure/function.

SUITABLE FOR 1ST YEAR STUDENTS: Yes

STUDENT ASSESSMENTS: There will be three take-home, open-book exams. These exams will be distributed throughout the course block, covering content from lectures, discussion sections, and readings. Critical thinking and experimental design and interpretation are key parts of the grading. Grades and constructive feedback will be returned. The exams will count for 80% of the final grade. Discussion section participation (attendance and oral contributions) will count for 20% of the final grade. As an experiment this year to better space out the work, the questions for Exam I will be handed out piecemeal after each relevant lecture and answers to each question will be due one week after it is assigned.

CREDIT HOURS: 5.0