Lecture

DNA and Its Engineering: Fundamentals and Applications

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In course

MSE-212: Biology for engineers

Le cours est une introduction aux sciences de la vie en tant que domaine pluridisciplinaire ayant de multiples connexions avec l'ingénierie des matériaux. Il permettra aux étudiants de trouver dans la biologie une inspiration lors des leur activités dans l ...

Description

This lecture covers the fundamentals of DNA, including its structure, function, and the processes of replication, transcription, and translation. The instructor begins by discussing the natural form of DNA as chromosomes, emphasizing their organization within the nucleus and the protective role of telomeres. The lecture then delves into the chemical structure of DNA, explaining the significance of nucleotides and the stability of the double helix formed by hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. The instructor highlights the importance of directionality in DNA synthesis and the mechanisms of DNA replication, including the roles of leading and lagging strands. The lecture also introduces the concepts of transcription and translation, detailing how DNA is converted into proteins. Additionally, the instructor discusses polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as a method for amplifying DNA, explaining its significance in molecular biology. The session concludes with an overview of recombinant DNA technology, illustrating how genetic material can be engineered for various applications.

Instructors (2)

Romain Zufferey

Teaching & PhD Courses Biology for engineers MSE-212 This course consists of an introduction to biology and more particularly to biology as a multidisciplinary field, emphasizing natural examples of materials engineering. It should therefore allow engineering students to find inspiration from biology in future materials research problems. Cellular biology and biochemistry for engineers BIO-105 Basic course in biochemistry as well as cellular and molecular biology for non-life

Maartje Martina Cornelia Bastings

Expertise Can we use structural material properties on the nanoscale to engineer selective interactions at the bio-interface?The goal of the Programmable Biomaterials Lab is to understand the molecular design rules behind selective multivalent interactions at the bio-interface. We use DNA as engineering tool to explore the importance of structural mechanics and precise control of valency and patterns on directional interactions and self-assembly. Expertise Can we use structural material properties on the na

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Related concepts (32)

Translation

Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. The English language draws a terminological distinction (which does not exist in every language) between translating (a written text) and interpreting (oral or signed communication between users of different languages); under this distinction, translation can begin only after the appearance of writing within a language community.

Engineering

Engineering is the practice of using natural science, mathematics, and the engineering design process to solve problems, increase efficiency and productivity, and improve systems. Modern engineering comprises many subfields which include designing and creating infrastructure, machinery, vehicles, electronics, materials, and energy. The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad range of more specialized fields of engineering, each with a more specific emphasis on particular areas of applied mathematics, applied science, and types of application.

Y chromosome

The Y chromosome is one of two sex chromosomes in therian mammals and other organisms. The other sex chromosome is the X chromosome. Y is normally the sex-determining chromosome in many species, since it is the presence or absence of Y that determines the male or female sex of offspring produced in sexual reproduction. In mammals, the Y chromosome contains the gene SRY, which triggers male development. The DNA in the human Y chromosome is composed of about 62 million base pairs, making it similar in size to chromosome 19.

X chromosome

The X chromosome is one of the two sex chromosomes in many organisms, including mammals, and is found in both males and females. It is a part of the XY sex-determination system and XO sex-determination system. The X chromosome was named for its unique properties by early researchers, which resulted in the naming of its counterpart Y chromosome, for the next letter in the alphabet, following its subsequent discovery. It was first noted that the X chromosome was special in 1890 by Hermann Henking in Leipzig.

DNA replication

In molecular biology, DNA replication is the biological process of producing two identical replicas of DNA from one original DNA molecule. DNA replication occurs in all living organisms acting as the most essential part of biological inheritance. This is essential for cell division during growth and repair of damaged tissues, while it also ensures that each of the new cells receives its own copy of the DNA. The cell possesses the distinctive property of division, which makes replication of DNA essential.

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