BCMB 304: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY II

The genetic code: Deciphering the code.  Universality and degeneracy of the genetic code.  Wobble hypothesis, colinearity of gene polypeptide.

Translation: Ribosome structure.  Activation of Amino acids.  Initiation, elongation and termination.  Eukaryotic and prokaryotic.  Post-translational modifications; Polysomes, inhibitors of protein synthesis. 

Control of gene expression:  Inducible and repressible operons, (lac and trp operons).

Mutation: molecular basis of mutation.  Point mutation – transitions, transversions, frameshift mutations.  Site-directed mutagenesis, Radiation induced mutation.  Chemically induced mutation.  DNA repair mechanisms.

Recombinant DNA and genetic engineering: Restriction endonucleases, Methods for recombinant DNA production, transformation, amplification, screening for cloned DNA.