Fundamentals of molecular genetics (OPEN UNI)

All living organisms have DNA as their genetic material. The human genome consists of 3 billion base pairs of DNA, including 21,000 genes which are responsible for coding proteins and RNAs integral for life. Molecular genetics is a field of biology which studies genes and their function at the molecular level, and how RNA and proteins together produce living cells and organisms. Understanding genetic functions at the molecular level allows us to comprehend how organisms develop, function, pass genetic information to the next generation and how genetic changes can lead to diseases. In this course you will learn how DNA is replicated, how mutations are repaired, how DNA recombines, protein synthesis and how genes are regulated. In addition, the most common molecular genetics research tools are presented. The central contents: DNA replication and repair, PCR and sequencing, recombination, transcription, translation, gene regulation.