3. Genetic Engineering

Frontiers of Biomedical Engineering (BENG 100)
Professor Saltzman introduces the elements of molecular structure of DNA such as backbone, base composition, base pairing, and directionality of nucleic acids. He describes the processes of DNA synthesis, transcription, RNA splicing, translation, and post-translational processing required to make a protein such as insulin from its genetic code (DNA). Professor Saltzman describes the genetic code. RNA interference is also discussed as a way to control gene expression, which can be applied as a new way to treat diseases.
00:00 - Chapter 1. Introduction
01:35 - Chapter 2. Building Blocks of DNA
11:17 - Chapter 3. Structure of DNA and RNA
24:16 - Chapter 4. Central Dogma and DNA Synthesis
35:15 - Chapter 5. Genetic Code and Protein Synthesis
41:55 - Chapter 6. Control of Gene Expression
Complete course materials are available at the Open Yale Courses website: open.yale.edu/courses
This course was recorded in Spring 2008.