1. Epigenetics: Investigating the Structure & Function of Deoxyribonucleic Acid

2. Interdisciplinary Investigations (IDI)
Chemistry 161
Chemistry 162
Chemistry 163
Epigenetics
This Investigation:
Day 1
Pre-Lab Discussion
Part 1: Structure and Function of DNA
Part 2: IDI Challenge 1
Day 2
Part 3: Seminar
Part 4: IDI Challenge 2
Part 5: Post-lab Assignment

3. What did you find most interesting about each video?
Pre-Lab Discussion
What did you find most interesting about each video?

4. E. Functions of DNA DNA Replication: Gene Expression:
DNA must be accurately copied to allow for the production of new cells during growth, repair, and reproduction.
Gene Expression:
Specific regions of DNA, called genes, must convey information to allow cells to build the needed proteins through transcription and translation.

5. Functions of DNA
DNA Replication:

6. DNA Replication: Let’s Watch

7. Functions of DNA
Gene Expression

8. Epigenetics and DNA Methylation:
Do all your cells have the same DNA?
Do all your cells use all their DNA? Why or why not?

9. All Our Cells Work From Essentially the Same Genome/DNA Template.
Thus cells must be able to regulate which genes they use.

10. Epigenetics and DNA Methylation:
Differential gene expression allows different cell types to adopt different fates.
Mistakes in gene regulation are associated with a variety of diseases, especially cancer.

11. Gene Regulation Plays an Important Role in Many Diseases

12. Part 1 A-C: Parts of the DNA Molecule
Sugar
Nitrogenous Bases

14. Polarity of G & C Bases

15. D. Linking Through Chemical Bonds

16. The Phosphodiester Bond

17. DNA Double Helix

18. DNA Methylation DNA methylation silences genes.
This reaction is enzyme-mediated.
DNA methylation silences genes.
Write down your ideas for the three questions in Part E!

19. How might the methylation of DNA silence (turn off) a gene?
Part 2: IDI Challenge
Work with your group to create a model (drawing) to address the question below.  Your drawing should pull together key ideas from two or more disciplines and be able to clearly communicate your hypothesis.   Remember that creativity is essential to good science!  Your model does not need to be correct-- just well supported!
Question:
How might the methylation of DNA
silence (turn off) a gene?
Be sure to capture your drawing as a photograph for your post-lab report!

20. Part 3: Seminar Assignment For Next Week: Read these two articles:
“A New Kind of Inheritance”, Scientific American, 2014
“Ancestral dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) exposure promotes epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of obesity” BMC Medicine, 2013.
2. Write a summary of the articles.
3. Write three questions
4. Bring the summary and questions with you to class and be prepared to participate in an in-class seminar

21. Day 2 Agenda: Hybridization of Cytosine A Bit More on Epigenetics
Your Seminar
Your Drawing, version 2!

22. Focus on Cytosine
Use the model kit to build the cytosine molecule again. Where does the methyl group go when methylation occurs? Add this to your model. On your handout from last week, add hybridization to your cytosine molecule and label pi bonds.

23. How do we detect DNA methylation?
We use CHEMISTRY!

24. How do we detect DNA methylation?
We use CHEMISTRY!

25. Impacts of DNA Methylation

26. Next: Your Seminar Find your team! Introductions and Roles.
Discuss the papers, using your questions as a guide.
Report out!

28. How might the methylation of DNA silence (turn off) a gene?
Day 2: IDI Challenge
Work with your group to create a model (drawing) to address the question below.  Your drawing should pull together key ideas from two or more disciplines and be able to clearly communicate your hypothesis.   Remember that creativity is essential to good science!  Your model does not need to be correct-- just well supported!
Question:
How might the methylation of DNA
silence (turn off) a gene?
Be sure to capture your drawing as a photograph for your post-lab report!

29. DNA Methylation: Let’s Watch