Applied Genetics: selected topics

1. Mutation

   1. Types of mutations

      • Point mutations

      • Insertions and deletions

   2. Causes of mutations

      • Spontaneous

      • Induced

   3. Effects of mutations

2. Viruses

   1. "Genes in packages"

      • Nucleic acid

      • Protein coat: capsid

      • Envelope

   2. Taking over: viruses at work

      • Attachment:

      • Penetration

      • Replication

      • Assembly

      • Exit

   3. Unique abilities of viruses:

      • Dormancy: Herpes

      • Cancer viruses: HPV

3. Gene Expression

   1. Stem cells and cellular differentiation

   2. Promoters: How to control a gene

   3. Steroid hormones: Genetic control from outside a cell

4. Cancer

   1. Oncogenes: genes that can cause cancer

      • Growth factors

      • Tumor suppressors

      • Cell cycle regulators

   2. Carcinogens: external factors

5. Recombinant DNA technology

   1. How to clone a gene

      • Restriction enzymes: Cut & paste

      • Plasmids: gene vectors

6. Transgenics

   1. Genetically modified foods

   2. Transgenic animals

   3. Recombinant bacteria

7. DNA fingerprinting

   1. Getting enough DNA: PCR

   2. RFLP: a unique pattern

   3. Applications: paternity testing, forensic science

8. Genomics

   1. Why study the genome?

   2. Completed genomes

9. Gene therapy

   1. How to do it? (If ever there was a good virus)

10. Ethical concerns