1. Molecular Biology Primer
Angela Brooks, Raymond Brown, Calvin Chen, Mike Daly, Hoa Dinh, Erinn Hama, Robert Hinman, Julio Ng, Michael Sneddon, Hoa Troung, Jerry Wang, Che Fung Yung

2. Three main branches to the tree of life
According to the most recent evidence, there are three main branches to the tree of life.
Prokaryotes include Archaea (“ancient ones”) and bacteria.
Eukaryotes are kingdom Eukarya and includes plants, animals, fungi and certain algae.

3. Life begins with Cell
A cell is a smallest structural unit of an organism that is capable of independent functioning
Fundamental working units of every living system.
All cells have some common features

4. Cells 70% water 7% small molecules 23% macromolecules
Chemical composition-by weight
70% water
7% small molecules
salts
Lipids
amino acids
nucleotides
23% macromolecules
Proteins
Polysaccharides
lipids
biochemical (metabolic) pathways
translation of mRNA into proteins

5. 2 types of cells: Prokaryotes v.s.Eukaryotes
Reverse sides
Delete continues

6. Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes, continued
Single cell
Single or multi cell
No nucleus
Nucleus
No organelles
Organelles
One piece of circular DNA
Chromosomes
No mRNA post transcriptional modification
Exons/Introns splicing

7. Prokaryotes v.s. Eukaryotes Structural differences
Eubacterial (blue green algae)
and archaebacteria
only one type of membrane--
plasma membrane forms
the boundary of the cell proper
The smallest cells known are bacteria
Ecoli cell
3x106 protein molecules
polypeptide species.
Eukaryotes
plants, animals, Protista, and fungi
complex systems of internal membranes forms
organelle and compartments
The volume of the cell is several hundred times larger
Hela cell
5x109 protein molecules
,000 polypeptide species
Structural differences
Two columns labelled prokaryotes and eukaryotes

8. Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells Chromosomal differences
Prokaryotes
The genome of E.coli contains amount of t 4X106 base pairs
> 90% of DNA encode protein
Lacks a membrane-bound nucleus.
Circular DNA and supercoiled
domain
Histones are unknown
Eukaryotes
The genome of yeast cells contains
1.35x107 base pairs
A small fraction of the total DNA encodes protein.
Many repeats of non-coding sequences
All chromosomes are contained in a membrane bound nucleus
DNA is divided between two or more chromosomes
A set of five histones
DNA packaging and gene expression regulation
Chromosomal diffecernces
Two labelled columns
Succinct in descriptioon
>90% encodes proteins Many repeats of noncoding sequences
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9. Surrounding the Cell

10. Cell Membrane
Outer membrane of cell that controls movement in and out of the cell
Double layer

11. Cell Wall Most commonly found in plant cells & bacteria
Supports & protects cells

12. Inside the Cell: Organelles

13. Nucleus Directs cell activities
Separated from cytoplasm by nuclear membrane
Contains genetic material - DNA

14. Nuclear Membrane Surrounds nucleus Made of two layers
Openings allow material to enter and leave nucleus

15. Chromosomes In nucleus Made of DNA
Contain instructions for traits & characteristics

16. Chromosomes Organism Number of base pair number of Chromosomes
Prokayotic
Escherichia coli (bacterium) x
Eukaryotic
Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) 1.35x
Drosophila melanogaster(insect) 1.65x
Homo sapiens(human) 2.9x
Zea mays(corn) 5.0x

17. Nucleolus Inside nucleus Contains RNA to build proteins

18. Cytoplasm Gel-like mixture Surrounded by cell membrane
Contains hereditary material

19. Endoplasmic Reticulum
Moves materials around in cell
Smooth type: lacks ribosomes
Rough type (pictured): ribosomes embedded in surface

20. Ribosomes Each cell contains thousands Make proteins
Found on ribosomes & floating throughout the cell

21. Mitochondria
Produces energy through chemical reactions – breaking down fats & carbohydrates
Controls level of water and other materials in cell
Recycles and decomposes proteins, fats, and carbohydrates

22. Golgi Bodies Protein 'packaging plant' Move materials within the cell
Move materials out of the cell

23. Lysosome Digestive 'plant' for proteins, fats, and carbohydrates
Transports undigested material to cell membrane for removal
Cell breaks down if lysosome explodes

24. Vacuoles Membrane-bound sacs for storage, digestion, and waste removal
Contains water solution
Help plants maintain shape

25. Chloroplast Usually found in plant cells Contains green chlorophyll
Where photosynthesis takes place

26. All Cells have common Cycles
Born, eat, replicate, and die

27. Signaling Pathways: Control Gene Activity
Instead of having brains, cells make decision through complex networks of chemical reactions, called pathways
Synthesize new materials
Break other materials down for spare parts
Signal to eat or die

28. Example of cell signaling

29. Cells Information and Machinery
Cells store all information to replicate itself
Human genome is around 3 billions base pair long
Almost every cell in human body contains same set of genes
But not all genes are used or expressed by those cells
Machinery:
Collect and manufacture components
Carry out replication
Kick-start its new offspring
(A cell is like a car factory)

30. Overview of organizations of life
Nucleus = library
Chromosomes = bookshelves
Genes = books
Almost every cell in an organism contains the same libraries and the same sets of books.
Books represent all the information (DNA) that every cell in the body needs so it can grow and carry out its vaious functions.