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Dominique Belin
You have all heard about the DNA double helix and genes. Many of you know that mutations occur randomly, that the DNA sequence is read by successive groups of three bases (the codons), that many genes encode enzymes, and that gene expression can be regulated.
These concepts were proposed on the basis of astute genetic experiments, as well as often on biochemical results. The original articles were these concepts appeared are however not frequently part of the normal curriculum of biologists, biochemists and medical students.
Read more
You have all heard about the DNA double helix and genes. Many of you know that mutations occur randomly, that the DNA sequence is read by successive groups of three bases (the codons), that many genes encode enzymes, and that gene expression can be regulated.
These concepts were proposed on the basis of astute genetic experiments, as well as often on biochemical results. The original articles were these concepts appeared are however not frequently part of the normal curriculum of biologists, biochemists and medical students.
Read more
You have all heard about the DNA double helix and genes. Many of you know that mutations occur randomly, that the DNA sequence is read by successive groups of three bases (the codons), that many genes encode enzymes, and that gene expression can be regulated.
These concepts were proposed on the basis of astute genetic experiments, as well as often on biochemical results. The original articles were these concepts appeared are however not frequently part of the normal curriculum of biologists, biochemists and medical students.
This course proposes to read study and discuss a small selection of these classical papers, and to put these landmarks in their historical context. Most of the authors displayed interesting personal histories and many of their contributions go beyond not only the papers we will read but probably all their scientific papers.
Our understanding of the scientific process, of the philosophy underlying the process of scientific discovery, and on the integration of new concepts is not only important for the history of science but also for the mental development of creative science.
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
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What's inside
Syllabus
Session 1
At the dawn of genetics, in the work of Mendel and Morgan, there was a complete void between the genes and the characters they determine.During the first week, we will discuss the relationship between genes and enzymes. We will start with the description of alkaptonuria by Garrod, in 1902, which he called a few years later an inborn error of metabolism. This was the first documented example of a human recessive trait, the first association of a human condition with Mendel’s principles and the first link between a gene and an enzyme. This work and that of Cuénot on mice fur color were essentially forgotten in the biology community in the following decades.After working with great difficulty on the enzymatic cascade that leads to the formation of the pigmented eye of fruit flies, Beadle and Tatum founded the field of biochemical genetics by isolating conditional mutants that affect the synthesis of vitamins and amino acids. This was first done with a mold, and then extended to bacteria. These experiments lead to the “one gene, one enzyme” hypothesis. While the hypothesis is now proven in many cases, the exceptions, including multigene enzymes, structural and enzymatic RNAs have expanded the concept rather than invalidating it.
Read more
Syllabus
Session 1
At the dawn of genetics, in the work of Mendel and Morgan, there was a complete void between the genes and the characters they determine.During the first week, we will discuss the relationship between genes and enzymes. We will start with the description of alkaptonuria by Garrod, in 1902, which he called a few years later an inborn error of metabolism. This was the first documented example of a human recessive trait, the first association of a human condition with Mendel’s principles and the first link between a gene and an enzyme. This work and that of Cuénot on mice fur color were essentially forgotten in the biology community in the following decades.After working with great difficulty on the enzymatic cascade that leads to the formation of the pigmented eye of fruit flies, Beadle and Tatum founded the field of biochemical genetics by isolating conditional mutants that affect the synthesis of vitamins and amino acids. This was first done with a mold, and then extended to bacteria. These experiments lead to the “one gene, one enzyme” hypothesis. While the hypothesis is now proven in many cases, the exceptions, including multigene enzymes, structural and enzymatic RNAs have expanded the concept rather than invalidating it.
Read more
Traffic lights
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause and
possible dealbreakers
Examines technological advances throughout the history of genetics
Builds a foundation in the fundamental principles of genetics
Teaches biological concepts in conjunction with historical context
Develops critical thinking skills through the analysis of scientific articles
Suitable for advanced students with a strong background in biology
Taught by esteemed instructors with extensive experience in genetics
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Reviews summary
Foundational papers in molecular genetics
According to learners, this course offers a unique and invaluable deep dive into the classical papers that shaped molecular genetics. Students consistently praise the superb selection of foundational articles and the way lectures provide essential historical context and experimental explanation. While it's considered challenging and requires dedicated effort to engage with the primary literature, many find it highly rewarding, offering a perspective often missing in standard textbooks. It is explicitly noted as not suitable for absolute beginners, requiring a solid prior understanding of basic genetics and molecular biology. Some reviewers found the delivery occasionally dry or felt lectures could offer more simplification, particularly for complex experiments, but the overall sentiment is strongly positive.
Lectures are helpful, but can be dense.
"Reading classical papers can be daunting but the lectures provide essential context and explanation, making them accessible."
"The lectures are dense with information but necessary to grasp the papers fully."
"The idea of the course is great, but the delivery was a bit dry. Reading old papers is interesting but sometimes the lectures didn't add enough clarity or context."
"The way the lectures unpack the papers is incredibly helpful."
Helps grasp how discoveries were made.
"Our understanding of the scientific process, of the philosophy underlying the process of scientific discovery, and on the integration of new concepts is not only important for the history of science but also for the mental development of creative science."
"Great for reinforcing concepts learned elsewhere and seeing the scientific process unfold."
"The discussion around the scientific process, failures, and competing ideas was especially valuable."
Requires effort, but offers deep understanding.
"It's challenging but rewarding. The lectures are dense with information but necessary to grasp the papers fully."
"It's challenging, requires significant effort outside the lectures, but the payoff in understanding is immense."
"It definitely requires dedicated time to read and process the original texts alongside the lectures. Not easy, but worthwhile."
Provides invaluable historical perspective.
"I really appreciated the historical perspective and how the instructor tied these discoveries to modern molecular genetics."
"It gives you a real appreciation for the ingenuity of these scientists. The historical narrative is compelling."
"The lectures do a good job of explaining the experimental logic and historical context. It's fascinating to see how concepts evolved."
"Discussion around their context is invaluable. This isn't just memorizing facts, it's understanding how we came to know them."
Reads and discusses foundational research.
"This course proposes to read study and discuss a small selection of these classical papers, and to put these landmarks in their historical context."
"Reading classical papers can be daunting but the lectures provide essential context and explanation, making them accessible."
"A unique course focusing on the foundational papers. It's challenging but rewarding."
"This course is a gem! It's not often you get to study the primary literature that built a field."
Material is dense, requires rereading.
"The pacing felt a bit fast at times, especially when dealing with the experimental details."
"Some papers required significant rereading."
"It's very heavy on experimental details which can be hard to follow without the instructor simplifying more."
Not for beginners; needs biology background.
"Highly recommended for anyone with a background in biology/biochemistry who wants to understand the foundations of the field."
"This course assumes prior knowledge, so not for absolute beginners."
"This course assumes a solid understanding of basic genetics and molecular biology. Don't take this as your first genetics course!"
"Requires a strong existing base knowledge."
Activities
Be better prepared
before
your course. Deepen your understanding
during
and
after
it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered
in Classical papers in molecular genetics with these
activities:
Review bacteria and bacteriophages
Show steps
Provides necessary context on the topic of DNA and its history.
View
Molecular Biology of the Cell
on Amazon
Show steps
-
Read selected textbook chapters
-
Write a short summary of the history of genetics
-
Create a timeline of major discoveries in genetics
Organize course materials
Show steps
Helps students stay organized and engaged by structuring their course materials effectively.
Show steps
-
Gather all lecture notes, readings, and assignments
-
Create a filing system or digital folders to organize materials
Punnett square worksheet
Show steps
Practice constructing and interpreting Punnett squares to strengthen foundational understanding.
Browse courses on
Genetics
Show steps
-
Complete a worksheet with various Punnett square problems
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Create a model of DNA structure
Show steps
Encourages students to visualize and understand the complex structure of DNA.
Browse courses on
DNA
Show steps
-
Use physical materials (e.g., pipe cleaners, beads) to create a 3D model of DNA
-
Label the different components of the DNA molecule
Discuss classical genetics experiments
Show steps
Encourages collaboration and exchange of perspectives on fundamental genetics concepts.
Browse courses on
Genetics
Show steps
-
Read assigned historical genetics experiments
-
Meet with peers to discuss the experiments and their significance
-
Prepare a short presentation on one of the experiments
Interactive simulations on genetic engineering
Show steps
Provides hands-on experience with DNA manipulation techniques through interactive simulations.
Browse courses on
Genetic Engineering
Show steps
-
Access online simulation platforms
-
Work through guided tutorials on different genetic engineering techniques
Recombinant DNA experiment proposal
Show steps
Engages students in applying their knowledge and skills to design a DNA manipulation experiment.
Browse courses on
DNA
Show steps
-
Research different methods of genetic engineering
-
Design an experiment using a specific technique
-
Write a detailed proposal describing the experiment
Contribute to an open-source genetics project
Show steps
Provides practical experience in genetics and fosters collaboration in the open-source community.
Browse courses on
Genetics
Show steps
-
Identify an open-source genetics project to contribute to
-
Read the project documentation and code
-
Suggest or implement a new feature or improvement to the project
Review bacteria and bacteriophages
Show steps
Provides necessary context on the topic of DNA and its history.
View
Molecular Biology of the Cell
on Amazon
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Read selected textbook chapters
- Write a short summary of the history of genetics
- Create a timeline of major discoveries in genetics
Organize course materials
Show steps
Helps students stay organized and engaged by structuring their course materials effectively.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Gather all lecture notes, readings, and assignments
- Create a filing system or digital folders to organize materials
Punnett square worksheet
Show steps
Practice constructing and interpreting Punnett squares to strengthen foundational understanding.
Browse courses on
Genetics
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Complete a worksheet with various Punnett square problems
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Create a model of DNA structure
Show steps
Encourages students to visualize and understand the complex structure of DNA.
Browse courses on
DNA
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Use physical materials (e.g., pipe cleaners, beads) to create a 3D model of DNA
- Label the different components of the DNA molecule
Discuss classical genetics experiments
Show steps
Encourages collaboration and exchange of perspectives on fundamental genetics concepts.
Browse courses on
Genetics
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Read assigned historical genetics experiments
- Meet with peers to discuss the experiments and their significance
- Prepare a short presentation on one of the experiments
Interactive simulations on genetic engineering
Show steps
Provides hands-on experience with DNA manipulation techniques through interactive simulations.
Browse courses on
Genetic Engineering
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Access online simulation platforms
- Work through guided tutorials on different genetic engineering techniques
Recombinant DNA experiment proposal
Show steps
Engages students in applying their knowledge and skills to design a DNA manipulation experiment.
Browse courses on
DNA
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Research different methods of genetic engineering
- Design an experiment using a specific technique
- Write a detailed proposal describing the experiment
Contribute to an open-source genetics project
Show steps
Provides practical experience in genetics and fosters collaboration in the open-source community.
Browse courses on
Genetics
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify an open-source genetics project to contribute to
- Read the project documentation and code
- Suggest or implement a new feature or improvement to the project
Career center
Learners who complete Classical papers in molecular genetics will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
Geneticist
Geneticist
This course provides a deep dive into the field of genetics, covering genes, mutations, and DNA structure. Geneticists will find this knowledge invaluable for their work, as it offers a comprehensive understanding of the genetic basis of traits and diseases, enabling them to make significant contributions to genetic research and counseling.
Molecular Biologist
Molecular Biologist
Molecular biologists can greatly benefit from this course, as it delves into the core concepts of molecular biology. The course covers topics such as genes, mutations, DNA structure, and gene expression, providing a solid foundation for understanding the molecular processes within living organisms. This knowledge is essential for conducting research in fields such as genetics, biotechnology, and medicine.
Professor
Professor
For individuals pursuing a career as a professor in genetics or a related field, this course offers a comprehensive foundation. It covers core concepts such as gene expression, DNA structure, and genetic mapping, providing a solid understanding of the subject matter. This knowledge is essential for effective teaching and research in the field of genetics.
Research Scientist
Research Scientist
This course can be a valuable asset for research scientists working in fields related to genetics and molecular biology. With its focus on genes, mutations, DNA structure, and recombinant DNA technology, this course provides a strong foundation for conducting independent research and contributing to scientific advancements.
Microbiologist
Microbiologist
For microbiologists, this course offers valuable insights into the molecular biology of microorganisms. With its emphasis on genes, mutations, and DNA structure, this course helps microbiologists comprehend the genetic mechanisms underlying microbial growth, virulence, and antibiotic resistance. This knowledge is crucial for advancing research and developing effective strategies to combat microbial infections.
Computational Biologist
Computational Biologist
The analysis of biological data is a core aspect of computational biology, making this course a helpful resource. With its focus on genetic mapping, mutations, and DNA structure, this course can provide computational biologists with a deeper understanding of the molecular basis of genetic information, enabling more effective development of computational tools for biological research.
Pharmacologist
Pharmacologist
This course can be beneficial for pharmacologists, particularly those involved in drug discovery and development. The course covers molecular biology concepts such as gene expression, mutations, and DNA structure, providing a foundation for understanding how drugs interact with biological systems. This knowledge can aid in the design and optimization of new drugs and therapies.
Science Writer
Science Writer
For individuals interested in becoming science writers specializing in genetics or molecular biology, this course offers a valuable foundation. It covers essential concepts such as gene expression, mutations, and DNA structure, providing a deep understanding of the subject matter. This knowledge is crucial for accurate and engaging science writing in this field.
Biophysicist
Biophysicist
This course provides valuable knowledge in genetics and molecular biology that can benefit biophysicists. The focus on genes, mutations, and DNA structure and function is directly relevant to biophysics research. This course offers a solid foundation in the molecular processes underlying biological systems.
Physician
Physician
Physicians may find this course helpful, as it provides a foundation in genetics and molecular biology relevant to medical practice. The course covers topics such as gene expression, mutations, and DNA structure, which are essential for understanding genetic disorders, inherited diseases, and personalized medicine. This knowledge can assist physicians in making informed decisions and providing effective patient care.
Forensic Scientist
Forensic Scientist
For forensic scientists specializing in DNA analysis, this course can be valuable. It offers a comprehensive overview of genetics, mutations, DNA structure, and gene expression. By understanding these concepts, forensic scientists can enhance their ability to analyze DNA evidence, identify individuals, and interpret genetic information in legal contexts.
Biochemist
Biochemist
For individuals interested in working in biochemistry, this course may be useful. With a focus on gene expression and mutations, the course covers essential concepts of the biochemical processes within our cells and their relationship to genes.
Technical Writer
Technical Writer
Technical writers specializing in biotechnology or life sciences may find this course beneficial. It provides a solid understanding of genetic principles, including gene expression, mutations, and DNA structure, which are essential for effectively communicating complex scientific information to a non-scientific audience.
Quality Control Analyst
Quality Control Analyst
Quality control analysts in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry can benefit from this course. It provides a solid understanding of genetic principles, including gene expression, mutations, and DNA structure, which are crucial for ensuring the quality and safety of biological products.
Biomedical Engineer
Biomedical Engineer
Biomedical engineers may find this course useful for its detailed look at the molecular basis of life. With in-depth coverage of genes, mutations, biochemical reactions, and genetic engineering techniques, engineers can gain a deeper understanding of the biological processes pertaining to their work in developing innovative medical technologies.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/pmmny0/classical
Reading list
We've selected 15 books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Classical papers in molecular genetics.
This classic textbook provides a comprehensive overview of the field of genetics, covering a wide range of topics from the basics of Mendelian inheritance to the latest advances in genomics and gene editing.
This comprehensive textbook provides an in-depth overview of the molecular biology of the cell, covering a wide range of topics from DNA structure and function to cell signaling and cancer.
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of genomics, covering topics such as the structure and function of genes, chromosomes, and DNA. It valuable resource for students and researchers in the field of genomics.
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of the human genome, covering topics such as the structure and function of genes, chromosomes, and DNA. It valuable resource for students and researchers in the field of genomics.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the history of molecular biology, covering topics such as the discovery of the double helix, the development of genetic engineering, and the ethical implications of genetic research. It valuable resource for students and researchers in the field of molecular biology.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the molecular genetics of bacteria, including the fundamental principles of bacterial genetics, the tools and techniques used to study bacterial genetics, and the latest advances in the field.
Save
Provides a historical account of the discovery of the structure of DNA by James Watson and Francis Crick. It classic work of scientific literature and is considered one of the most important books of the 20th century.
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of the history of gene editing, covering topics such as the discovery of CRISPR-Cas9, the development of gene editing technologies, and the ethical implications of gene editing research. It valuable resource for students and researchers in the field of gene editing.
Provides a comprehensive overview of biochemistry, covering topics such as the structure and function of proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates. It valuable resource for students and researchers in the field of biochemistry.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the history of DNA, covering topics such as the discovery of the double helix, the development of genetic engineering, and the ethical implications of genetic research. It valuable resource for students and researchers in the field of molecular biology.
Save
Provides a clear and concise introduction to the basic principles of genetics, including the study of genes and heredity in living organisms.
This textbook provides a clear and concise overview of the basic principles of genetics, making it an accessible resource for students with little or no background in the subject.
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of genetics, covering topics such as Mendelian inheritance, molecular genetics, and population genetics. It valuable resource for students and researchers in the field of genetics.
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of the history of genetics, covering topics such as the discovery of DNA, the development of genetic engineering, and the ethical implications of genetic research. It valuable resource for students and researchers in the field of genetics.
Provides a concise and accessible overview of the key concepts and techniques in molecular biology, making it a useful reference tool for students and researchers alike.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/pmmny0/classical
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Dominique Belin
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