Welcome to Biochem on the Sesqui Year!

It’s another year, and our university’s 150th. Join us for another biochemical journey.

2008.09.22. Guide for Nucleic Acid Exam

Based on Boyer, Rodney (2006) Concepts in Biochemistry 3rd Edition. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

Chapter 10: Nucleic Acids and DNA

1. RNA and DNA Chemical Structures
2. DNA Structural Elements
3. RNA Structural Elements
4. Cleavage of DNA and RNA by Nucleases
5. Nucleic Acid-Protein Complexes

Chapter 11. Biosynthesis of DNA and RNA: Replication and Transcription

1. Replication of DNA
2. Action of DNA Polymerases
3. DNA Damage and Repair–not in detail
4. Synthesis of RNA
5. Post-transcriptional Modification of RNA
6. Base Sequences in DNA

Chapter 12. Protein Synthesis and the Genetic Code

1. The Process of Protein Synthesis
2. Three Stages of Protein Synthesis
3. Post-translational Processing of Proteins (not for now, since we talked about it in proteins, but make sure you review this for the final exam)
4. Regulation of Protein Synthesis and Gene Expression

Chapter 13. Biotechnology: Recombinant DNA and Gene Therapy

1. Recombinant DNA Technology
2. Preparing Recombinant DNA
3. DNA Amplification by the Polymerase Chain Reaction
4. Applications of Recombinant DNA Technology (skim through only for now)

Don’t forget the reports coming up later today! They will be part of the exam on Monday, September 29.

Also, check out the links and downloads page for additional enrichment– the molecular visualization links should be helpful. Too bad we don’t have time for bioinformatics in class, but you can explore some of the links on your own.

It seems that Eid is on October 2. So, please get ready to stay on September 29 til about 9 pm for the last set of reports, unless the reporters would prefer to meet up on another evening or Saturday.

See you in class!

–nrlr

Alberts et al., 1994 vs. The Beatles, 1969

I was trawling for images to use for an upcoming lecture when I came across Professor Larry Moran’s blog (http://sandwalk.blogspot.com/2007_03_01_archive.html), with its image of the authors of the 3rd edition of Molecular Biology of the Cell: Bruce Alberts, Dennis Bray, Julian Lewis, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts, James D. Watson. His blog was commenting on the place itself where it was taken, and how it was not recognized by his students.

Molecular Biology of the Cell 3e Authors: Alberts et al., from the back cover, taken from http://sandwalk.blogspot.com/2007_03_01_archive.html of Professor Larry Moran.

Well, I haven’t been by that place at all, and I’m nowhere near as old as Prof. Moran or the MBoC authors, but the shot looks like a riff on the much-copied, much-parodied, music classic:

The Beatles Abbey Road Album, 1969

Well, who do you think look better– Alberts et al. or John, Paul, George, and Ringo ? The pic just proves that scientists have a sense of pop culture and iconography. I wonder if Alberts et al. listened to the Beatles when they wrote the book.

Wala lang, naaliw lang ako. Di ko era, pero aliw pa rin.

Welcome to a new semester of biochemistry!

It’s the new school year, and we’re gearing up for new faces joining us in biochemistry. Welcome! We hope you enjoy looking at life at the molecular level. To get you into the spirit of things, here are some links to check out:

• The gallery of Scripps Research Institute professor David Goodsell’s molecular and cellular art: http://mgl.scripps.edu/people/goodsell/gallery/gallery.html.
• His molecule of the month series at the Protein Data Bank: http://www.pdb.org/pdb/static.do?p=education_discussion/molecule_of_the_month/index.html
• New rapid prototyping technologies to view molecules in 3-D: http://3dmoleculardesigns.com/

Article on Carbohydrates from the Harvard School of Public Health

Read more about carbs and nutrition in this 3-page article from the Harvard School of Public Health:

ch151-carbs-harvard-article

PCR Song and Music Video

Forgot to include this in the links: See the PCR music video ad of Bio-Rad at http://bio-rad.cnpg.com/lsca/videos/ScientistsForBetterPCR/. The lyrics are also available (PDF file) biorad_pcrsong_lyrics.

Transum participants

Ms Rutth Gerochi has informed us that there are Manila options for the transum fieldwork. These would allow you to attend our CH 151 classes in the morning.  So please note the following:

1. Any absence due to the fieldwork will be counted towards your allowance of 6 cuts. Going over 6 cuts means automatic withdrawal without permission from the course. Arrival after attendance is checked is considered a cut. So you may opt to use your cuts for the fieldwork if  you have perfect attendance so far.
2. Note however that the absence is NOT excused, so make-up work will NOT be given. Any points for quizzes, recitation, exercises, and other class activities are forfeited. If you are absent, please make sure that your grades can take the hit.
3. As always, class notes will be posted so you can track what’s going on in class.

Have a fruitful field experience!

Possible textbook

We’re still in the middle of negotiations to get copies of Boyer’s Concepts in Biochemistry textbook for you this summer. We’ll keep you posted, but we should have a definite answer by tomorrow or Friday. Ballpark cost is P1,500. If you haven’t shopped for a textbook yet, please hold off buying a text, in case the supplier can bring the books in. For those who got other books, don’t worry, those are useful too. We hope the handouts help you in finding the topics to read in the particular textbook that you have.

Set 2 Handout- Protein Structure

Handout for Protein Structure lectures now available on the Downloads and Links site.

2008.04.14: Set 1 Handouts (Chemistry Review)

A PDF version of the Chemistry Review presentation is available on the downloads page. You might want to check it out.