Course Information & Syllabus

2.3. Course Objectives

After completing the four units of this course, you should be able to:

• Identify the general structure and function of carbohydrates, phospholipids, proteins, enzymes and nucleic acids.
• Outline the general processes used by the cell to generate cellular energy from sugar and to generate the energy and reducing agent needed for the Calvin cycle.
• Describe how DNA was shown to be the genetic material and how DNA is copied.
• Describe the structure and regulation of genes, and the structure and synthesis of proteins.
• Understand the inheritance of two or more traits based upon Mendelian genetics. Apply this knowledge to drawing and decoding human pedigrees.
• Understand the inheritance of traits when the genes involved are linked.
• Predict the results of genetic crosses involving two or more traits when the genes involved are linked or unlinked.
• Understand the general tools and reagents used in recombinant DNA technologies.
• Outline a general strategy for making a recombinant DNA library, screening a recombinant DNA library, and analyzing the DNA fragment identified.
• Design a general strategy for identifying a gene of interest using recombinant DNA techniques.