Biology 225: Genetics Lecture 1

Outline: Intro/Class Business

I. The Development of the field of Genetics

II. DNA as the Genetic Material

III. The Central Dogma of Genetics

IV. Genetics and the Evolution of Life

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I. The Development of the field of Genetics

A. 4000 Years Ago

B. 1866: Gregor Mendel

C. The discovery of DNA and Chromosomes

II. DNA as the Genetic Material

A. 1920's: What was known & What was thought

B. Early experiments showing DNA as the genetic material:

1. 1940s: Griffith’s results on Streptococcus pneumoniae and mice:

2. 1944: Avery, MacLeod, and McCarty experiments

3. Conclusions:

C. 1952: Hershey and Chase

D. 1953: Watson and Crick:

1. The molecular Structure of DNA

2. The implications of DNA structure

III. The Central Dogma of Genetics

IV. Genetics and the Evolution of Life