Lecture 1~5 - Molecular Genetics
Dr. Ari Sadanandom
Why study genetics:
• Defines life
• Human behaviour and health dictated by genes
• Centred around Nucleus
Relevance to Bio:
• Molecular Bio (genes, gene function, DNA replication, Chromosome structure)
• Cell bio and development (genetic dissection, cell cycle, stem cell)
• Ecology (pops, genetic drift, speciation)
• Evolution (relatedness of species)
• Behaviour
Branches of Genetics:
1. Transmission (Mendelian) Genetics -> how genes are inherited and recombine
2. Molecular Genetics -> How genes function, regulate, duplicate, maintain, organise
3. Population Genetics -> How one or a few genes behave in a pop (distribution of genetic diseases)
4. Quantitative Genetics -> How many genes interact to produce variation in a pop (crop yield,
intelligence)
Mitochondrial Inheritance
• Mitochondria and Chloroplasts = small circular chromosomes, contains own set of
genes
• Vary in size between species
• Contribute by encoding proteins
• Proteins associated with electron transport processes, respiration, or photosynthesis
• They have their own genetics
DNA
-> Double Helix Structure
RNA - Ribonucleic Acid
• Gene Sequence (DNA) -> language instruct cell to manufacture particular protein
• RNA - Intermediate language (sequence of RNA) translates a genes message into a proteins’ amino acid
sequence
• Protein that determines trait
DNA -> RNA -> Protein
DNA
• Double stranded
• Thymine as base
• Deoxyribose as sugar
1
Dr. Ari Sadanandom
Why study genetics:
• Defines life
• Human behaviour and health dictated by genes
• Centred around Nucleus
Relevance to Bio:
• Molecular Bio (genes, gene function, DNA replication, Chromosome structure)
• Cell bio and development (genetic dissection, cell cycle, stem cell)
• Ecology (pops, genetic drift, speciation)
• Evolution (relatedness of species)
• Behaviour
Branches of Genetics:
1. Transmission (Mendelian) Genetics -> how genes are inherited and recombine
2. Molecular Genetics -> How genes function, regulate, duplicate, maintain, organise
3. Population Genetics -> How one or a few genes behave in a pop (distribution of genetic diseases)
4. Quantitative Genetics -> How many genes interact to produce variation in a pop (crop yield,
intelligence)
Mitochondrial Inheritance
• Mitochondria and Chloroplasts = small circular chromosomes, contains own set of
genes
• Vary in size between species
• Contribute by encoding proteins
• Proteins associated with electron transport processes, respiration, or photosynthesis
• They have their own genetics
DNA
-> Double Helix Structure
RNA - Ribonucleic Acid
• Gene Sequence (DNA) -> language instruct cell to manufacture particular protein
• RNA - Intermediate language (sequence of RNA) translates a genes message into a proteins’ amino acid
sequence
• Protein that determines trait
DNA -> RNA -> Protein
DNA
• Double stranded
• Thymine as base
• Deoxyribose as sugar
1
