Learning Basic Genetics with Interactive Computer Programs

✍ Scribed by Charles C. Tseng, Xiaoli Yang (auth.)

• Publisher: Springer-Verlag New York
• Year: 2013
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 264
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Traditionally, genetics laboratory exercises at the university level focus on mono- and dihybrid crosses and phenotypic analysis—exercises under traditional time, materials, and process constraints. Lately, molecular techniques such as gene cloning, polymerase chain reactions (PCR), and bioinformatics are being included in many teaching laboratories—where affordable. Human chromosome analysis, when present at all, has often been restricted to simple identification of chromosomes by number, through the usual “cut-and-paste” method. Although several online karyotyping (chromosome identification) programs have become available, they are not meaningful for studying the dynamics of the chromosome system, nor do they help students understand genetics as a discipline.

The software that accompanies this book has been shown to be an ideal tool for learning about genetics, which requires a combination of understanding, conceptualization, and practical experience.

✦ Table of Contents

Front Matter....Pages i-ix
Introduction: What Is Genetics?....Pages 1-18
DNA Structure: What Is DNA?....Pages 19-35
Cell Cycle and DNA Replication: How Does DNA Replicate in Preparation for Cell Division?....Pages 37-91
PCR: How Do We Amplify DNA in the Laboratory?....Pages 93-110
Packaging DNA into Chromosomes: How Do the Long Threads of DNA Fit into the Small Interphase Nucleus?....Pages 111-129
Mitosis: How Are the Chromosomes of the Parent Cell Evenly Parceled Out to the Daughter Cells?....Pages 131-144
Meiosis: How Is DNA Content Reduced and Recombined During the Formation of Gametes?....Pages 145-189
Genes and Proteins: How Do Genes Work?....Pages 191-203
Gene Expression I (Transcription and RNA Processing): How Is Information Transferred from DNA to RNA?....Pages 205-233
Gene Expression II (Translation): How Is Information Transferred from RNA to Proteins?....Pages 235-248
Human Cytogenetics: Are You Interested in Becoming a Clinical Geneticist or Just Curious About Human Chromosomes?....Pages 249-252
Back Matter....Pages 253-261

✦ Subjects

Human Genetics; Computational Biology/Bioinformatics; Cytogenetics