Biology 551                Spring, 2003                LS132                TTH 6:15-7:30                
 

H. Shubeita, Ph.D. (handouts)  &  M. Mardahl, Ph.D. (handouts)

 
 

Paper choices (pick one of the following journal articles to review as detailed below- due April 24)

 

Sex- and age-dependent human transcriptome  variability: Implications for chronic heart failure

 

Stimulation of the calcitonin gene-related peptide enhancer by mitogen-activated protein kinases and repression by an antimigraine drug in trigeminal ganglia neurons.

Recombinant DNA

Lecture Schedule

                                                                    


 

Date

Topic

Instructor
Reading assignment (O&P, 6th Ed.)
Jan. 21
Introduction; Overview of Course
Shubeita/Mardahl
1-5
DNA Structure and Replication
Shubeita
see Genes VII
Jan 23
Molecular Biology of Prokaryotes: a Review
Shubeita
see Genes VII
Jan 28
Molecular Biology of Eukaryotes: a Review
Shubeita
see Genes VII
Jan 30
Isolation and Purification of DNA (Genomic DNA, Plasmid DNA, Phage DNA), Agarose and Acrylamide  Gel Electrophoresis of DNA
Mardahl
8-10, 43-44;

 48-49

Feb 4
DNA Restriction and Methylation Enzymes
Shubeita
26-36
Feb 6
Other Enzymes used in Recombinant DNA Research
Shubeita
36-42
Feb 11
Restriction Enzyme Mapping
Mardahl
277-282
Feb 13
Hybridization Techniques  (DNA, RNA, Protein)
Shubeita
11-17
Feb 18
Cloning in Bacteria; Cloning Vectors: Plasmids, M13
Shubeita
49-53; 60-63
Feb 20
FIRST EXAM 
Shubeita/Mardahl
Feb 25
Cloning Vectors: Lambda, Cosmids, Phagemids 
Shubeita
53-60; 64-70
Feb 27
Techniques for Introduction of DNA into Bacterial, Plant and Animal Cells 
Mardahl
17-19; 139-143; 156-157; 176-201
Mar 4
Genomic Library Construction and Screening 
Shubeita
86-92
Mar 6
Isolation and Analysis of RNA; Synthesis and Cloning of cDNA; cDNA libraries
Mardahl
92-101
Mar 11
Expression and Purification of Recombinant Proteins 
Shubeita 
70-84 
Mar 13
Use of Computers for Analyzing Nucleic Acid and Protein Sequences, Computer assignment, location to be announced
J. Trawick, Elitra,

Shubeita 

126-132 

Mar 18
Broad Host Range Plasmids, Prokaryotic Gene Transfer.
Michael Cleary, PC Kelco, Mardahl
140-155
Mar 20
Synthesis and Uses of Oligonucleotides; DNA sequencing
Shubeita
120-125
Mar 25
PCR; Applications of PCR
Shubeita 
19-25; 91-2; 100-1; 109-10
Mar 27
SECOND EXAM
Shubeita/Mardahl
Apr 8
Eukaryotic Cloning Vectors I 
S. Shah, Invitrogen, Shubeita
198-201; 247-253
Apr 10
Eukaryotic Cloning Vectors II 
S. Shah, Invitrogen, Shubeita
198-201; 247-253
Apr 15
In vitro Mutagenesis; Reverse Genetics
Mardahl
132-138;
Apr 17
Defining the Location of 5’ and 3’ Ends of Transcripts; Assays of DNA Binding Proteins 
Shubeita

 

Apr 22
Gene Therapy and Viral Vaccines
Mardahl
288-299
Apr 24
Transgenic Eggs and Animals
Mardahl
201-220
Apr 29
Transgenic Eggs and Animals
Mardahl
247-273
May 1
Studying Eukaryotic Gene Control Using Recombinant DNA Technology
Shubeita
254-255
May 6
Diagnostics, Disease Prevention/Treatment, Food Production
Shubeita
274-319
May 8
Human Genome 
Mardahl
126-132; 274-288

COURSE REQUIREMENTS: 3 exams (100 points each), 1 written paper (100 points), 1 computer assignment (100 points). Copies of previous exams are available on reserve at the library.  Because of the very large amount of material covered, we will not have a comprehensive final exam.  However, the third exam will take place during the final exam period (Tuesday, May 13, 7:00 to 9:00 pm).  You will have 1.5 hours to complete each of the 1st two exams.  For the written paper, choose an article from the list of articles provided by the instructors.  The articles utilize recombinant DNA techniques to answer basic scientific questions or to provide a method for synthesizing an important product. Attach one copy of the article to the term paper.  You will need to do some background reading on the subject of your article in order to produce a satisfactory paper.  Critique the methods used in the paper based on what you have learned in this course. The paper should be typed, double-spaced, and 5-10 pages in length.  April 24 will be the last day for submission of your completed term paper.  See the following pages for more details on the term paper.  The computer exercise will be described in class on March 13 and is due April 10.

Required Texts:                                Principles of Gene Manipulation; Old and Primrose, Sixth Edition

                                Recent research articles (citations will be provided in class)

Supplemental Texts:                                 Genes VI or Genes VII, Lewin

                                Recombinant DNA, Watson, Gilman, Witkowski, and Zoller, Second Edition

                                Methods in Enzymology, Vol. 152

Review of Journal Article

Introduction:

1.                Definition of problems and issues covered in article. 

2.                Discussion of background information and previous results.

Evaluation of Experimental Results:

1.     What are the specific questions being addressed?

2.                Description and evaluation of techniques used.

3.     What are the experimental results?

4.     Evaluate the controls that were used.  Were the authors careful to include correct controls?

5.     Are the results correctly interpreted and are the conclusions warranted ?

Discussion:

1.     Evaluate the significance of the results you described in the previous section. Place these results in the context of the field.

2.     What are the questions that remain to be answered and what directions are most likely to lead to new discoveries and more fundamental information?

3.     Be critical - could the authors have used better controls, more modern techniques, more definitive experimental approaches?

Bibliography:

1.     Be consistent; include all authors, title of article, source, year; refer to articles in text either by number or by authors and year.

Overall presentation of paper that will be evaluated:

1.     Have you followed the above outline and included what is requested above?

2.     Depth of coverage?

3.     Clarity?

4.        Sentence structure, spelling, grammar, and physical appearance.



Evaluation of Biol551 Paper

(Attach to Paper)

Student Name________________                                Grade (out of 100 possible points) ______ 

Introduction:

Definition of problems and issues to be discussed: (10 POINTS)

Presentation of background information and previous results: (10 POINTS)

Evaluation of research in paper:

Questions being addressed: (10 POINTS)

Description and evaluation of techniques used: (10 POINTS)

Description of current research discoveries: (10 POINTS)

Discussion:

Adequate evaluation of work presented: (10 POINTS)

Description of questions that remain to be answered, directions most likely to lead to new discoveries: (10 POINTS)

Bibliography: Inclusion of all authors, title of article, source, year; consistency: (5 POINTS)

Overall presentation of paper:

Depth of coverage: (10 POINTS)

Clarity: (5 POINTS)

Sentence structure, spelling, grammar, and physical appearance: (10 POINTS)