Brief History of DNA Discovery

DNA and Chromosome Structure

Chromosomal Abnormalities
Conventional Cytogenetics: Technical Aspects -Analysis and
Karyotyping
Molecular Cytogenetics: FISH Technique
DNA Extraction and Purification
Conventional PCR
Real Time PCR
Infectious Agents Detection
Hemoglobinopathies
Introduction to Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)
Molecular Genetics and Personalized Medicine
Molecular Genetics: Ethical Considerations
Course assessment

Quizzes 20%
Med Term 20%
Case study 10%
Final practical 10%
Final Theory 40%

Total 100%
DNA Discovery
MLS 327- Lecture 1
 What’s DNA

- Deoxyribo Nucliec Acid

- Carries genetic
information
1859 Charles Darwin

1928 Frederick Griffith

1950 Erwin Chargaff

1952 Rosalind Franklin

1953 James Watson and Francis Crick

The Origin of Species
Charles Darwin
- living things appear to be
designed, but may actually
be the result of natural
selection.

- living creatures evolve over

several generations through
a series of small changes.
- ‘Factors’ determine the
characteristics a living thing will
express.
- The genes are passed to later
generations, with a child taking
genes from both its parents.
- The great mystery was where and
how would this information be
stored?

Gregor Mendel
Frederick Griffith
Oswald Avery
Hershey and Chase
Model building
Watson and Crick
 Erwin Chargaff Rosalind Franklin

Base ratios X-ray diffraction

Base ratios
X-ray diffraction
Franklin’s X-ray data
• Double helix
• Uniform width of 2 nm
• Bases stacked 0.34 nm apart

Chargoff’s “rules”
• Adenine pairs with thymine
• Cytosine pairs with guanine
What they came up with on
their own:

• Bases face inward, phosphates

and sugars outward

• Hydrogen bonding

• Hinted at semi-conservative
model for replication
Further readings

Chapter 2

Brown T. (2012) Introduction to Genetics: A Molecular

Approach. Garland Science. USA