BLCHM 6400 - Genetic Engineering

This course covers essential techniques used in genetic engineering. Assuming modest background in biology, the course introduces fundamental aspects of molecular biology including mechanisms for storage of information in DNA and transfer of this information to RNA and protein molecules. Manipulations of DNA molecules to rearrange or remodel genetic information ("cloning") are described from both theoretical and practical viewpoints. Topics covered include the use of restriction endonucleases, amplification of DNA sequences using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), detection of DNA and RNA using hybridization (Southern and Northern blotting), properties of cloning vectors and their use in constructing genomic and cDNA libraries, DNA sequencing and sequence analysis, creating and detecting mutations in DNA and introducing these mutations into a genome, and expression and characterization of proteins.