Basics of Molecular Biology

Molecular biology is the study of how biological information is stored, copied, and used inside cells. At the center of the field are DNA, RNA, and proteins: DNA stores genetic information, RNA helps transfer and regulate that information, and proteins carry out most of the structural and chemical work of the cell. In this class, we will build a working understanding of how DNA is replicated, how genes are transcribed into RNA, how RNA is translated into protein, and how cells regulate these processes. We will also connect these concepts to modern laboratory techniques and biotechnology, with an emphasis on understanding not just what happens inside a cell, but why these molecular systems behave the way they do. No lab component -- lecture and discussion only.