BCMB 303: Molecular Biology I

Purine and pyrimidine biosynthesis: Regulation of biosynthesis. Structure and properties of nucleosides and nucleotides. Biosynthesis of deoxyribonucleotides; thymidylate biosynthesis. Salvage pathways.
DNA and chromosome structure: Evidence for DNA as carrier of genetic information. Primary and secondary (A, B and Z DNA) and tertiary structure of DNA. Elucidation of DNA structure. Watson and Crick double helix. Structural differences between RNA and DNA. Methods for sequencing DNA. Organisation of DNA in chromosomes, nucleosome structure.
DNA replication: Mechanism of replication (prokaryotic and eukaryotic). Evidence for semi-conservative replication. DNA replicating enzymes. Directionality of replication.
Transcription: Mechanism of transcription (prokaryotic and eukaryotic). Features of a typical transcription unit. Characteristics of different types of RNA. Modification and processing RNA. Reverse transcription.