Download School of Biomedical Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences

School of Biomedical, Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences
Unit Outline
Molecular Biology
SCIE2225
Semester: 1
Campus: Crawley and QEII Medical Centre
Unit Coordinator: A/Prof Barbara Chang
This outline is the currently available version for this unit. Detailed Information on unit
content and assessment may undergo modification before the time of delivery of the
unit. For the most up to date information students must consult material supplied to
enrolled students by the unit co-ordinator.
All material reproduced herein has been copied in accordance with and pursuant to a statutory licence administered
by Copyright Agency Limited (CAL), granted to the University of Western Australia pursuant to Part VB of the
Copyright Act 1968 (Cth).
Copying of this material by students, except for fair dealing purposes under the Copyright Act, is prohibited. For the
purposes of this fair dealing exception, students should be aware that the rule allowing copying, for fair dealing
purposes, of 10% of the work, or one chapter/article, applies to the original work from which the excerpt in this course
material was taken, and not to the course material itself
© The University of Western Australia 2001
1
Introduction
The objectives of this unit are to provide students with a broad knowledge and
understanding of the concepts and methods used in molecular biology. Molecular
biology can be defined as the study of biological phenomena in molecular terms, or
more precisely as the study of gene structure and function at the molecular level. The
unit will interest students in many areas of biology who wish to understand the
spectacular advances that have recently been made in molecular biology, such as the
sequencing of the human, mouse, rice, dog and many other genomes, the
simultaneous expression of thousands of genes by DNA chip technology, and many
other techniques leading to novel insights into evolution, medical and agricultural
science.
The unit extends many of the topics introduced in Molecular Biology of the Cell 106.
The content of the unit is divided into several major themes: revision of DNA, RNA and
protein synthesis; chromosome structure and function; protein structure and function;
tools of the molecular biologist; the regulation of gene activity in prokaryotes and
eukaryotes; bioinformatics; recombinant DNA technology and genetic engineering. The
practical work will familiarise the student with techniques basic to Molecular Biology.
Broad Learning Outcomes
Outcomes
Assessment Activity
Students will be able to recall and integrate key
knowledge and concepts about:






chromosome structure and function
protein structure and function
tools of the molecular biologist
regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes and
eukaryotes
recombinant DNA technology
introductory bioinformatics
Theory exam
Lab worksheets
Students will acquire skills in:





polymerase chain reaction
plasmid isolation and sizing
DNA melting, ligation and hybridization
genetic code analysis
determination of gene regulation in prokaryotes
Lab worksheets
Lab quizzes
Practical test
Advisable Prior Study
Molecular Biology of the Cell 106 is a prerequisite unit. Students must also have completed
another 6 point level 1 biology unit, plus 12 points of level 1 Chemistry.
Technical Requirements
All equipment required is provided in the laboratories. Lab coats are provided for use during
the practicals held in Microbiology, however a lab coat must be purchased for use in
Biochemistry laboratories.
2
Software Requirements
Nil
Contact Details
Unit web site (may include Web CT URL): http://Webct.uwa.edu.au/
Name of Unit coordinator: A/Prof Barbara Chang
e-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 9346 2288
Fax: 9346 2912
Consultation hours: By appointment
Unit Structure Summary
Lectures
Two 45 minute lectures per week.
Practical and/or Laboratory Sessions
One 2-hour laboratory class every week. Attendance is compulsory.
Tutorials
There is time allocated during the laboratory classes for discussion of experimental results
and worksheets.
Topics
For details of times and venues of all teaching sessions please consult the university
timetable at http://www.timetable.uwa.edu.au/
LECTURE TOPICS
1
Introduction to unit
2
Revision of basic molecular genetic mechanisms
3
Assumed skills and revision questions
4
Chromosome structure and function: DNA organisation and repair
5
Chromosome structure and function: Structure/function linkage
6
Overview of protein structure and function
7
Purifying, detecting and characterising proteins
8
Tools of the molecular biologist: Plasmids
9
Tools of the molecular biologist: Viruses and transposons
10
Tools of the molecular biologist: Restriction and modification of DNA
11
Recombinant DNA technology: Cloning by PCR
3
LECTURE TOPICS continued
12
Recombinant DNA technology: Genetic recombination and the use of recombinase in
cloning
13
Recombinant DNA technology: DNA sequencing and synthesis
14
Regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes: Protein-DNA interactions
15
Regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes: Repressors, activators and global
regulatory mechanisms
16
Regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes: Measuring gene expression – Northern
blots
17
Regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes: Measuring gene expression – arrays
18
Regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes: Levels of transcriptional control in
eukaryotes
19
Regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes: Combinatorial control in transcription
20
Regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes: Global regulation by oxygen in yeasts
21
Regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes: Global regulation by oxygen in mammals
and plants
22
Introduction to Bioinformatics
23
Bioinformatic resources and applications
24
Unit review and exam information
References, Resources and Reading Materials
Recommended Text
Molecular Cell Biology, Lodish H. et al., 5th Edition, 2004, Freeman and Co.
Reference Books
Essentials of Molecular Biology, Malacinski G.M. and Freifelder D., 4th Edition, 2002, Jones
and Bartlett Publishers.
Genes VIII, Lewin B., 2004, Pearson Prentice Hall
Molecular Biology, Weaver R., 2002, 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill.
The text book by Lodish is currently also the text for Molecular Biology 325. It has more depth
of information than is necessary for Molecular Biology 225, but is a good buy for students
considering further studies in molecular biology. It is available on closed reserve in the
Biological Sciences and Medical Libraries.
Molecular Biology of the Cell, and Essential Cell Biology, both by Alberts, provide useful
supportive material in some areas. These are the texts for Molecular Biology of the Cell 106.
All lecturers provide lecture handouts, which will be available on WebCT. The unit laboratory
manual, supplied to all students enrolled in the unit, contains detailed instructions,
background information and worksheets.
Unit web site
All enrolled students have access to the unit WebCT site (http://webct.uwa.edu.au). This site
will be used for notices, posting of supplementary course materials, email and discussion. It is
strongly recommended that you log onto this site on a daily basis. The website should be
used for all remote communication to the unit co-ordinator. Students are encouraged to pose
questions about course content on the discussion forum of the site so that all class members
can view and contribute to the discussion.
4
Assessment Details
Assessed Work
% Mark
Timing
Final exam – 2hr exam. Mix of MCQ
and short answer questions
70%
End of semester exam period
Microbiology Laboratory
assessment: open book lab quiz
15%
Last laboratory session of this section
Biochemistry Laboratory
assessment: practical test
15%
Last laboratory session of this section
Plagiarism
The University of Western Australia takes very seriously the matter of academic misconduct
by students and has policies in place that define misconduct (including plagiarism) and the
penalties that apply. The consequences for misconduct can be severe, including exclusion
from the university.
All students are expected to make themselves aware of the definitions and policies relating to
academic misconduct, found at the websites below, and with any additional requirements or
stipulations that may be provided by individual unit co-ordinators.
http://www.secretariat.uwa.edu.au/__data/page/20839/StuMiscondInfo.rtf
http://www.teachingandlearning.uwa.edu.au/tl/academic_conduct
When you obtain authority to log in to the unit website, you will se an online module on
academic conduct which you are strongly advised to complete in your own time.
5