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Module 13 To be completed soon.
Main Progression - Gene Expression, Cellular Reproduction, Mendelian Genetics, Recombination & Mutation, The Molecular Biology Laboratory, and Human Genetics
Review & Preview - This is the first module in which we find ourselves responsible for the outlines of all four disciplines: Physics, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Biology.
Knowledge Mapping - An intense and challenging set of discussions designed to help you integrate a great deal of physics and chemistry.
Verbal Reasoning and Essay - Continuing the regimin of reading program, exercise, and writing assignment.
Main Progression
Goals
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Understand the central dogma of molecular biology. |
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Be able to outline the steps of gene transcription including the role of transcription factors, RNA polymerase, and protein factors involved in nucleosome modification. |
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Be prepared to describe in some detail the types of RNA synthesized in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells including mRNA, rRNA, tRNA, snRNA, snoRNA, and miRNA. |
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Have at least a general comprehension of the different types of RNA polymerase. |
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Be able to describe the steps of RNA processing in eukaryotes from pre-mRNA to mRNA from synthesis of the cap, removal of introns, splicing of exons, and synthesis of the polyA tail. |
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Comprehend the processes and significance of alternative splicing. |
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Describe the architecture of tRNA and its role in the process of translation. |
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Be able to describe the functions of the codon AUG in starting translation and the functions of the stop codons UAA, UAG, and UGA. |
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Have a detailed, descriptive understanding of the steps of translation from initiation to elongation and termination. |
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Be able to distinguish bacterial forms of regulation of gene expression from eukaryotic regulation of gene expression. |
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Be able to describe the structure and significance of the Lac operon and tryptophan operon in gene expression of many bacteria. |
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Have at least familiarity with the basics of transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and translational regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes. |
Goals
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Be able to reproduce a clear, concise definition of genetic recombination and designate the primary contexts in vivo and in vitro. |
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Be prepared to describe chromosomal crossing over and comprehend the different kinds of crossing over events which may occur. |
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With homologous recombination understand why recombination frequencies are proportional to the distance between markers and why co-inheritance frequency is inversely proportional to the distance. |
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Distinguish gene conversion from chromosomal crossing over. |
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Have a basic familiarity with the nonhomologous end-joining mechanism for DNA repair. |
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Understand how recombination between two regions on a single dsDNA molecule may result in the intermediate region looping out as circular dsDNA. |
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Be familiar with the various kinds of mobile genetic elements including transposons, plasmids, bacteriophage DNA, and group II introns. |
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Be able to narrate the events of bacterial conjugation, transduction, and transformation (transfection with eukaryotes). |
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Know how mutations are distinguished by their effect on structure, ie. small scale mutations (point mutations, insertions, deletions) and large scale mutations (amplifications, chromosomal translocations, chromosomal inversions, how they are distinguished by their effect on function, ie. amorphic, neomorphic, or antimorphic, and how mutations are distinguished by their effect on protein sequence, ie. frameshift, missense, nonsense, or silent. |
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Know the causes of mutations including examples of different kinds of spontaneous mutations and examples induced by mutagens. |
Review & Preview
Knowledge Mapping
Goals
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Be able to narrate the Carnot Cycle in terms of the concepts of Heat & Temperature, Ideal Gas & Kinetic Theory, The First Law of Thermodynamics, and the Second Law of Thermodynamics. |
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Pull together concepts of Work & Energy, the Electric Force, Heat & Temperature, Thermochemistry and the Second Law of Thermodynamics to develop a concrete, intuitive sense of the Gibbs free energy. |
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Apply the concepts of Thermochemistry and Chemical Thermodynamics to understand equilibrium in important examples such as phase change, dissolving an electrolyte in water, autoprotolysis of an acid, and oxidation-reduction. |
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Be prepared to distinguish reasoning based on the concepts of Chemical Thermodynamics from propositions based on Chemical Kinetics. |
Verbal Reasoning
Essay
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