Biology 118: Genetics & Molecular Biology Fall 2007

Dr. Amy Bejsovec (Dr. B.) <bejsovec@duke.edu> Tel:613-8162 Office Hrs: Fri. 9-10 AM or by appt.
Dr. Eric Spana <spana@duke.edu> Tel: 613-8208 Office Hrs: Fridays 9-10 AM or by appt.
TAs: Bethany Brown (bjb15@duke.edu), Hsin Chen (hsin.chen@duke.edu), Jonathan Coloff
(jlc43@duke.edu), Arielle Cooley (arielle.cooley@duke.edu), Whitney Jones
(whitney.jones@duke.edu), Erica Tsai (erica.tsai@duke.edu)

Texts: Alberts et al., (2002) Molecular Biology of the Cell, 4th ed., Garland Science.
Griffiths et al., (2002) Modern Genetic Analysis, 2nd ed., WH Freeman.

Date Topic Lect. Suggested Reading

Aug. 28 Introduction to Genetics & Molecular AB A: Chap.1, G: Chap. 1
Biology
30 Proteins ES A: 129-160
Sept. 4 Nucleic acids & Genomes ES A: 191-204,G: 32-41
6 Chromosome Structure ES A: 204-216, 222-233
11 Genes &Transcription ES A: 299-305
13 Prokaryotic Transcriptional Regulation ES A: 306-309, 379-384, 395-398
18 Eukaryotic Transcriptional Regulation ES A: 309-313, 398-415, 207-216
20 RNA Processing ES A: 315-322, 326-329, 436-438
25 tRNA, rRNA & the Genetic Code ES A: 329-341
27 EXAM I (100 pts)
Oct. 2 Translation ES A: 342-351
4 DNA Replication ES A: 238-254
9 Fall Break
11 DNA Replication ES A: 255-266
16 Mutation & Repair AB G: 313-331, 337-345, A: 267-275
18 Cytoskeleton and Mitosis AB A: 907-931, 676-677, 1027-1060
23 Meiosis and Inheritance AB G: 100-113, 117-128, A:1127-1139
25 Pedigree Analysis AB G: 128-137
30 Recombination AB G: 147-158, 169-172, A: 275-285
Nov. 1 Genetic Mapping AB G: 158-169
6 EXAM II (100 pts)
8 Genomics AB G: 265-307, review G: Chap. 8
13 Mutational Analysis AB G: 385-415
15 Dominance & Epistasis AB G: 453-473
20 Ploidy AB G: 349-363
22 Thanksgiving
27 Chromosomal Aberrations AB G: 363-377
29 Mobile Genetic Elements AB G: 331-339, A: 285-296
Dec. 4 Regulation of Cell Cycle ES A: 983-1003, G: 483-489
6 Misregulation of Cell Cycle: Cancer ES A: 1003-1009, Chap. 23, G: 488-496
Dec. 15 EXAM III (150 pts) 7:00 - 10:00 PM
Biology 118: Genetics & Molecular Biology
Fall 2007

Biology 118 is the first of two semesters covering the principles of cell biology and molecular
genetics. Biology 118 focuses on the structure of eukaryotic cells and the organization, expression
and transmission of genetic information. Throughout the course we will emphasize the process of
scientific discovery and analysis that are essential to our modern understanding of molecular biology
and genetics. The second semester of the sequence, Biology 119, emphasizes the regulation and
control of cellular processes, with an emphasis on the special problems of multicellularity including
signal transduction, development and immunology.

Discussion Sessions
The course is based on lectures given by the instructor. There will also be discussion sessions
facilitated by the TA. The discussion sections are optional, but we strongly recommend that you
attend. The discussion section will provide opportunities for brief review, followed by a problem solving
session based on questions handed out in class or assigned from the textbook.You should attempt to
work through the problems, on paper, before coming to the discussion section. Although these
questions are not graded, they will provide the basis for exam questions.

Using the Textbooks

There are two texts for this course. Use the texts as resources to clarify material covered in lectures
and to deepen your own appreciation of topics of interest. You may find it useful to review the pages
recommended on the syllabus before coming to class, particularly if your background is weak in a
particular area. Studying the figures and summaries is an efficient way to review. You will then want to
consult the texts after lecture, using the index and glossaries as a guide. You will only be held
accountable for material covered in the lectures and problem sets. You may also find it helpful to
consult the problems that accompany Alberts et al. and the end of chapter questions in Griffiths et al.
For a general review of the chemistry required to understand the course, we recommend Alberts et al.
Chapter 2. For a general review of various techniques referred to in lecture, we recommend Griffiths
et al. Chapter 8.

Exams and Grading

There will be three exams: 2 midterm exams of 100 pts. each, and a final of 150 pts. The midterm
exams will test the material covered in lecture and problem sets up to and including the last lecture
before the exam. The final exam will be cumulative, with the major part (~2/3) covering the last third of
the course. Exams will have a short essay and problem solving format. There will be no make up
exams. Regrade requests must be submitted in writing within one week of receiving the graded exam.
The entire exam will be regraded, not just the disputed question.

The final grade will be calculated out of 350 pts. The B/C cut-off will be set at 80% or the class mean,
whichever is lower.