GENE 3000

The objective of this course is to provide students with a general foundation in molecular genetics and recombinant DNA technology. Replication, transcription, protein synthesis, recombinant DNA, and the regulation of gene expression in procaryotes and eucaryotes will be studied in detail. Ethical and legal issues related to the production, testing, and ownership of genetically engineered organisms will be discussed. In the laboratory, students will be exposed to a range of molecular genetic techniques, including isolation and restriction site mapping of bacterial plasmids, bacterial transformation, isolation and restriction enzyme digestion of genomic DNA, and PCR amplification. Students completing this course will be able to read original research papers in the molecular genetic literature, and will be prepared for advanced training in molecular biology, plant breeding, or animal breeding.