Download The DNA age:

EK131/132
The DNA age:
how DNA science and technology transforms medicine in the 21st century
M.D.Frank-Kamenetskii
1. Introduction. Brief history of genetics and molecular biology. From the
Watson-Crick double helix to biotechnology and the advent of the personalized medicine.
DNA and RNA structure and function. Chemical structure of DNA, RNA and proteins.
Spatial structure of biological molecules. Watson-Crick double helix (B-DNA). Protein
structure. The cellular machinery: enzymes, molecular motors, cellular highways and
cellular organelles. Fundamental difference between molecular motors and man-made
motors. Prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The central dogma of molecular biology. DNA
replication. DNA coding and template strands. Transcription and translation. Genetic
code. Open reading frame. RNA splicing.
DNA technology. Restriction enzymes. Sanger sequencing. Next-generation sequencing.
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). DNA fingerprinting. DNA barcoding. In vitro DNA
editing: genetic engineering.
CRISPR: The discovery of prokaryotic immunity. CRISPR applications for in vivo
DNA editing.
Immunity. Immunoglobulins, receptors and their genes. Lymphocytes: B- and T-cells.
Immunological memory: vaccines. Antigens and their presentation. Major
Histocompatibility Complex (MHC). Immunotherapy of cancer. CAR-T technology.
Immune checkpoint therapies. Somatic mutations and their role in cancer. Neoantigens.
Cancer vaccines.
DNA and human diseases. Mutations. Indels and SNPs. Mitosis and meiosis. Hereditary
diseases. Royal disease (hemophilia) and its implications for the history of mankind.
Genetic analysis of hereditary diseases. Darwinian evolution and Sickle-Cell disease. The
founder effect. Jewish genes: Tay-Sachs disease and Familial Hypercholesterolemia.
The advent of personalized medicine and gene therapy. Genome-based medicine.
Personalized cancer treatment. Gene therapy based on CRISPR-cas technology of in vivo
editing. Specificity of genome editing and off target effects. Gene drive and a new
era in combating malaria, Zika virus, Lime disease, etc. Ethical issues.
Textbook:
Maxim D. Frank-Kamenetskii "Unraveling DNA" Addison -Wesley,1997.
Available online