Our knowledge of life has been revolutionised by the finding that DNA is the molecule that carries the genetic information that determines the characteristics of any organism. This course will introduce students to the history of the discovery of the chemical structure of DNA, the structure itself, its role in the transmission of genetic information, and how it is used in activities such as the forensic examination of crime scenes. The molecular basis of the infamous Coronavirus will be discussed.
No knowledge of chemistry or biology is required, and students will find how easy it is to pick up basic concepts without a background in science. Through a number of written exercises, students will more fully appreciate the fundamentals of both the structure and properties of DNA. The following topics will be covered in the course:
- What is life?
- Thoughts about the molecular basis of life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- The identification that chromosomes were the carriers of the genetic “information” in the early 20th century.
- “Classic” experiments that demonstrated that DNA (one of the molecular constituents of chromosomes) must be the carrier of the genetic “information”.
- The basic features of the chemical structure of DNA, and how it can be manipulated to produce genetically modified organisms.
- A look at the genetic material of the infamous Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).
- Description of how DNA is used in forensics.
- An outline of the genetic code, which enables the “information” in DNA to be “transformed” into the individual characteristics of organisms.
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
- Understand the structure of DNA, and how it can be manipulated
- Appreciate the basics of some of the experiments that led to the establishment that DNA is the genetic material 3. Understand how DNA is used in a forensics laboratory and the molecular makeup of the Coronavirus
