DNA – From Structure to Therapy Syllabus

Chapter 1: Introduction to the course

What kind of course is this? • Getting to know us • What the course contains, and why structure is important • The fascination of DNA

Chapter 2: DNA carries the genetic information

How do we know that DNA exists and carries the genetic information? • The cell nucleus contains the genetic information • DNA is passed on to daughter cells upon cell division • Chromosomes • How DNA was first isolated • DNA determines the genetic makeup of an organism

Chapter 3: The race to the discovery of DNA structure

What is the molecular structure of DNA? How was that discovered? • Chemical formulas show the structure of the building blocks of DNA • Bases pair in the DNA • The story of the discovery of DNA structure • DNA is a double helix

Chapter 4: DNA replication and PCR

How is the multiplication of DNA used to diagnose disease? • The DNA double helix can be separated and duplicated • How a strand of DNA is made • The polymerase chain reaction allows detection of extremely small amounts of DNA

Chapter 5: Transcription, translation, and therapy

How is the genetic information put to work in the cell? • Chromosomes, genes, RNA, and protein • How the genetic code was decoded • How proteins are made using the sequence information of RNA

Chapter 6: Curing a genetic disease

How can one cure an inborn disease? • What goes wrong in cystic fibrosis • How our knowledge about DNA can help suggest a cure

DNA – From Structure to Therapy Chapter Overview

Chapter 1: Introduction to the course

All elements without quizzes and no chapter homework: • Introductory sequence • Fascination DNA • Why start with structure? • Course contents • Concluding sequence

Chapter 2: DNA carries the genetic information

All elements have a quiz and chapter has one homework (p2p reviewing by participants): • Introductory sequence • Body, tissues, cells and sizes • Genetic information is in the cell nucleus • The Spemann experiment • Flemming 1: passing on genetic information • Flemming 2: Mitotic cells in the microscope • Flemming 3: his original drawings and the sequence of mitosis • Mitosis • Karyograms • The Miescher experiment: the isolation of nuclein • The Miescher experiment: nuclein composition • The Miescher experiment: the bases • DNA isolation experiment • The Avery experiment 1: the test system • The Avery experiment 2: tests with live and dead bacteria • The Avery experiment 3: tests with extracts • Concluding sequence

Chapter 3: The race to the discovery of DNA structure

All elements have a quiz and chapter has one homework (p2p reviewing by participants): • Introductory sequence • Chemical formulas show the structures of molecules • Nucleotides • The Chargaff rules • The race to discovery of DNA structure • The X experiment 1 : Intro to lab sequence • The X experiment 2: Reproducing Rosalind's X • The X experiment 3: What did the X tell?

• Base pairing 1: Watsons card board models • Base pairing 2: chemical attraction and repulsion • Base pairing 3: the Watson and Crick helix • Concluding sequence

Chapter 4: DNA replication and PCR

All elements have a quiz and chapter has one homework (p2p reviewing by participants): • Introductory sequence • Replication basics • Replication process • Replication topology intro • Nucleotide numbering • Mechanism of Polymerisation • DNA Polymerase • The reason for 5' to 3' directionality • PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) • PCR-based diagnosis • PCR in the lab • Genetic fingerprint: Which parts of the DNA are used? • Genetic fingerprint: What are STRs? • Genetic fingerprint: Analysing a STR gel • Concluding sequence

Chapter 5: Transcription, translation, and therapy

All elements have a quiz and chapter has one homework (p2p reviewing by participants): • Introductory sequence • Genes as units of information • DNA from chromosomes to proteins • Transcription • Decoding the code • Translation Intro • Ribosome 2: size and subunits • Ribosome 3: mRNA binding and conformational changes • Ribosome 4: domains and positioning of mRNA • Ribosome 5: protein synthesis • Ribosome 6: some questions • Ribosome 7: pre-mature stop codons • Ribosome 8: a therapeutic approach for cancer • Concluding sequence

Chapter 6: Curing a genetic disease

All elements have a quiz and chapter has one homework (p2p reviewing by participants): • Introductory sequence • Opinions • The Disease • Osmosis Part 1: Dissolving egg shells

• Osmosis Part 2: Eggs in exchange • Osmosis Part 3: The movement of water • Cystic Fibrosis • Part 1: What happens in a cell? • Cystic Fibrosis • Part 2: What happens in a lung? • Readthrough • Concluding sequence