18BT42 Molecular Biology syllabus for BT

INTRODUCTION & REPLICATION OF DNA:

Chromosomal theory of heredity, genes and their location. Genetic code, Information flow in biological systems: central dogma, updated central dogma. Structures and forms of nucleic acids – DNA and RNA. Reversible denaturation and hyperchromic effect. Tertiary structure of DNA: DNA supercoiling. Replication of DNA, structure and function of DNA polymerases, models of replications in prokaryotes, mechanism of DNA replication and enzymes involved. Proteomics of DNA replication, Fidelity of DNA replication, Inhibitors of DNA replication

TRANSCRIPTION:

Structure and function of RNA polymerases (prokaryotes & eukaryotes), mechanism of transcription in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, transcription factors, Fidelity of RNA synthesis, post-transcriptional processing (RNA editing, siRNA, splicing, poly A tail and 5’ capping), Ribozymes, transcription inhibitors.

TRANSLATION:

Mechanism of translation, activation of amino acid initiation, elongation and termination of protein synthesis. Post-translational modification and protein targeting, protein splicing. Differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic protein synthesis, inhibitors of translation.

GENE EXPRESSION IN PROKARYOTES & EUKARYOTES:

Regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes: Operon model, gal, lac, trp Operons; positive versus negative regulation. Regulation of eukaryotic gene expression, transcriptional control, homeobox in the control of developments in insects and vertebrates.

GENETIC RECOMBINATION, MUTATION & GENE MAPPING:

Genetic recombination in bacteria and viruses, site specific recombination, transposons and insertion sequences; Retroviruses. DNA damage & Repair, Mutation, Role of recombination and transposition in evolution; gene mapping techniques.

Course Outcomes:

At the end of the course the student will be able to:

• Explain replication, transcription and translation processes with underlying differences in prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems.
• Elaborate importance of genetic recombination with special reference to bacterial system.
• Outline DNA damage and repair mechanisms

Question paper pattern:

• The question paper will have ten full questions carrying equal marks.
• Each full question will be for 20 marks.
• There will be two full questions (with a maximum of four sub- questions) from each module.
• Each full question will have sub- question covering all the topics under a module.
• The students will have to answer five full questions, selecting one full question from each module.

Textbook/s

1 Essentials of Molecular Biology David Freifelder Narosa Pub. House 1990

2 Molecular Biology of the Cell Alberts et al Garland Publishing 2002.

3 Molecular Biology of the Gene James D Watson et al Pearson Education Seventh Edition 2017

Reference Books

1 Principles of Gene manipulation and Genomics Primrose, Oxford University Press 2006