Syllabus Information: Genetics BIOL 3313

1. Syllabus Information: Genetics BIOL 3313 Dr. David F. Gilmore Office: 418 LSE • Email: dgilmore@astate.edu • Web page: http://www.clt.astate.edu/dgilmore • Office hours: TBA; other times by appt.

2. Syllabus info (continued) • Four lecture exams (100 pts each) • Fifth exam at Finals time (100 pts) • Additional points for homework, quizzes, other assignments. These PowerPoints: Note number, take scant notes; slides will be posted before class. Attendance sheet

3. Genetics: the Study of Biological Information • How is the information stored/organized? • How is it used? • How is it transmitted to new generations? • How is it distributed among populations?

4. Genetics: the Study of Biological Information • How is the information stored? • Look at the information storage molecule itself. • How is it used? • Look at how the information is processed • and the products of that information.

5. Genetics: the Study of Biological Information • How is it transmitted to new generations? • Look at how information is passed on at • the cellular level and what info shows up in the offspring. • How is it distributed among populations? • Look at patterns of inheritance in families, quantify how traits persist and are distributed within populations.

6. 4 Major Divisions/Approaches in Genetics Classical genetics: look at patterns of inheritance, note how genes act by observing inherited characteristics. Cytogenetics: learning about inheritance by studying cell structures, particularly chromosomes. Molecular genetics: Reductionist approach, determine how genes work by examining and manipulating their molecular structure. Population genetics: Use of statistics and math to see how traits are passed on, maintained, or lost among large numbers of individuals.

7. A Book on How to Make Gargoyles: An analogy about genetic information

8. A Book on How to Make Gargoyles: An analogy about genetic information Questions about the book itself: color, weight, # of pages? Book as source of information: organization? Number of chapters? Information independent of book

9. A Book on How to Make Gargoyles: An analogy about genetic information Phenotype vs. genotype: what’s on your friend’s roof? Vertical vs. horizontal transmission: who gets a copy of the book?

10. Using genetic information:the “central dogma” Proteins can be directly responsible for traits. Enzymes (proteins) can create traits: metabolize sugars; synthesize pigments or vitamins; assemble other informational macromolecules like polysaccharides.

11. Lipids • Fatty acids, phospholipids, cholesterol, steroid hormones, etc. • Hydrophobic; components of membranes, can diffuse through membranes • Steroid hormones bind to receptors with specificity • Result in changes in gene expression • Have information content, change information usage www.pandasthumb.org/archives/images/lock&key.jpg

12. Carbohydrates • Simple sugars, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides • Polysaccharides include structural/storage materials such as starch, cellulose, peptidoglycan, glycogen, chitin. • Some oligosaccharides (on glycoproteins, glycolipids) have specific, complex structures: • Information content wine1.sb.fsu.edu/BCH4053/Lecture15/Lecture15.htm

13. Proteins • Sequence of amino acids determines eventual 3-D structure. • Sequence itself directly coded for by DNA • Proteins have high degree of information content. http://www.cs.nott.ac.uk/~nxk/TEACHING/G6DHLL/COURSEWORK/2003-2004/courseworks_files/image009.gif

14. Nucleic acids • The ultimate informational molecules • Genetic information determined by sequence of nucleotide bases. http://www.fhcrc.org/science/education/courses/cancer_course/basic/img/dna.gif

15. Review of Cell Structure • Eukaryotes: larger, and compartmentalized • Feature membrane-bound organelles • DNA enclosed in nucleus, associated with histones • Capable of being tightly packaged • Prokaryotes: small and structurally simple • Membrane-bound organelles lacking • DNA loosely packaged with histone-like proteins • Never tightly packaged • Attached to inside of cell membrane

16. Eukaryotic cell surface features • All cells have a phospholipid/protein bilayer membrane, the interface between the cell and its environment. • The cell coat consists of informational molecules: polysaccharides and PS-containing lipids and proteins. These molecules act as receptors to identify the cell or receive messages that trigger changes in gene expression. Green: proteins; blue: PS; red: lipids. http://www.sju.edu/biology/CellsPowerPt/chp11/img030.jpg

17. The Nucleus and Cytoplasm Organelle with a double membrane Pores allow passage of materials. DNA packaged with proteins = Chromatin diffuse, granular apperance. Nucleolus: rRNA and ribosome synthesis Cytoplasm is a colloid of protein and water Contains the other organelles and membrane systems such as endoplasmic reticulum and the ribosomes, site of protein synthesis. 137.222.110.150/ calnet/cellbio/page4.htm; http://www.sp.uconn.edu/~bi107vc/images/cell/cytoplasm.gif

18. More organelles • Ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi work together to create and distribute proteins • After synthesis on ribosomes, proteins acquire sugar tags in ER and are sorted and shunted after being prepared in Golgi. • Ancient endosymbionts • Mitochondria resemble Gram negative bacteria (2 membranes) in many ways, are self replicating and have own DNA • Site of aerobic respiration, ATP synthesis • DNA is circular like bacterial; bacterial-type ribosomes. • Chloroplasts similar and carry out photosynthesis; have own DNA

19. Centrioles and cytoskeleton • The centrioles are structures that occur in pairs and are made of microtubules. • Microtubules are made of protein • Centrioles help assemble the spindle to which chromosomes attach in mitosis. • The cytoskeleton is made of microtubules and microfilaments • Proteins are generally tubulin or actin • Provides cell shape, structure and locomotion. cell.sio2.be/noyau/4.php ; www.cellsalive.com/ cells/cytoskel.htm

20. Prokaryotes • No organelles, little or no cytoskeleton • Cell wall surrounding cell membrane, so membrane surface not heavily involved in receiving signals. • Small size and lack of nucleus allow rapid responses to changes in the environment. • Ribosomes plentiful, but smaller and different from eukaryotic. http://ghs.gresham.k12.or.us/science/ps/sci/soph/cells/pics/pro1.jpg