C2005/F2401 '09 -- Lecture #15 -- Outline

Last Posted/Updated --  11/03/09 07:23 PM

I. Mutations (See notes of Lecture #14)

    A. Why mistakes in DNA synthesis are more serious than mistakes in RNA or protein synthesis

    B. Types of  mutations -- insertions, deletions, substitutions, frameshifts

     C. Importance of mutations

II.  Operons & How They Work (There will be a handout)

    A. Enzyme synthesis can be Inducible, Repressible, or Constitutive

    B. Repression vs. feed back inhibition

    C. Mechanism of induction -- the operon model -- operators, co-repressors, inducers, etc.

    D. An example of induction

    E. Constitutive Mutants

•   How does an operon get stuck in the "on" position?
•   How can you tell a mutation in an operator from a mutation in a repressor gene?

    F. Weak vs. Strong Promotors -- how you regulate the level of mRNA made when a gene/operon is fully "on"

III. (If Time) How is Bacterial DNA passed on? Plasmids, Chromosomes & Fragments of DNA

Next Time: Wrap up of above, Repression vs Induction, and then How do Bacteria Have Sex? How do they Exchange and/or Transfer genes?