BSCI 415
Laboratory in Molecular Genetics
Fall 2008
INSTRUCTORS:
Dr. David Straney
Office: Room 2222 H. J. Patterson Hall
Phone: (301)
405-1622 email: Straney@umd.edu
TA:
Chris McClellan
Office/Lab: 0209
Phone: (301) 405-1854
email: oriolefan1012003@yahoo.com
OVERVIEW
Genetics offers a means of studying how organisms function, ranging from molecular interactions within cells to their ecological interactions in the environment. With molecular genetics, components can be defined, characterized and manipulated to suit experimental conditions or for the alteration of the organism for human uses. Molecular genetics uses much the same sort of analysis as classical genetics (mutants, segregation, phenotypes) but extends the tools and the ability to define components to the molecular level.
Molecular genetics can be used for any organism. Model organisms are ones that possess characteristics that allow rapid analysis and where use of one species provides the sharing of tools and maps. However, focus upon only one simple model organism provides only a glimpse of the mechanisms that drive the diversity and evolution in biology. We will use three genetic systems in this course- human, a nematode (Caenorhabitis elegans), and a plant (Arabidopsis thaliana). The latter two are good genetic models for manipulating components due to their small sizes, fast generation times, and small genomes. The also offer access to cutting-edge tools in molecular manipulation and genomics databases in the research community.
LAB PROJECTS: (more complete summaries here)
The aim of the course is to introduce the approaches molecular genetics uses to answer biology-based questions, rather than providing an exercise in techniques. The syllabus is organized around four projects that represent different approaches towards defining genes and understanding their function. These are:
i) Phenotypic screen for developmental and response mutants in the nematode C. elegans and plant Arabidopsis thaliana.
ii) PCR-based cloning of a human gene and analysis of polymorphisms
iii) Plant transformation with reporter gene constructs to analysis expression and constructs used for complementation of mutations
iv) Genomic mapping of a phenotypic mutant using molecular markers to determine the chromosomal location of a mutation
Schedule and Web Links By Project:
Project 3: Plant Transformation
Data: