C2005/F2401 '09-- Outline for Lecture #10 (10/13/09) -- DNA STRUCTURE & FUNCTION

Posted/Last Revised 10/05/09 06:06 PM

Outlines & Notes for the remaining lectures of '09 will be posted by the evening before each lecture. If you want to read ahead, see the '08 outlines & lectures.

I. Introduction: Why do you need genetic material? What properties must it have?

II. Transformation: How did we figure out that the genetic material is DNA?

    A. How do you assay (test for) the presence of genetic material?

    B. Results of the assay (transformation).

    C. Implications of conclusion that DNA is the genetic material.

III. Nucleotides and Primary Structure of DNA (there will be an extensive handout on this**)

    A. Structure of components of nucleotides (purines & pyrimidines, (deoxy) ribose, phosphate)

    B. How nucleotides are hooked up

    C. Shorthand for drawing nucleotides & polynucleotides; conventions and terminology. (3' and 5' ends)

    D. Implications of primary structure for function of the genetic material

IV. 3D DNA Structure

    A. How 3D structure (the famous double helix) was figured out

    B. Implications of 3D structure for function

Any of the topics not covered in lecture 10 will be wrapped up in lecture 11.    

** Extra copies of all handouts are in the boxes outside Dr. M's office -- 7th floor Mudd (near 744)