This will be an introduction to genes, how they control what we are, and how they are transmitted from parents to kids.This course will attempt to use very little prior knowledge. We will discuss what DNA is, its organization in the cell, replication, transcription, translation, recombination. In addition to the above we may discuss the principles of DNA sequencing, genome reconstruction, whole genome transcription analysis, etc., if there is interest.
We will also do some hands-on experiments representing typical methodology in molecular biology/genetics. We will isolate DNA from our own cells, separate and visualize DNA using agarose gels that we make ourselves. Hopefully we will prepare and study under microscope polythene chromosomes of the fruit fly.