Nucleic Acids & the Molecular Basis of Information
A 18-module path through nucleic acids & the molecular basis of information, in study order from foundations to the frontier.
Modules
- Nucleotides and Nucleosides: Bases, Sugars, and Phosphates
- The Phosphodiester Backbone
- Base Pairing and the Chemistry of Complementarity
- The DNA Double Helix
- Stability of the Double Helix: Stacking and Hydrogen Bonding
- Alternative DNA Forms: A, B, and Z
- DNA Supercoiling and Topology
- Topoisomerases: Enzymatic Control of Supercoiling
- RNA Secondary and Tertiary Structure
- Types and Functions of Cellular RNA
- Denaturation and Renaturation of DNA
- Hybridization and the Basis of Nucleic Acid Detection
- The Chemistry of DNA Hydrolysis and Strand Cleavage
- The Chemistry of DNA Damage
- Nucleotide Biosynthesis: De Novo and Salvage Pathways
- The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
- DNA Sequencing: Sanger and Next-Generation Methods
- Blotting Techniques: Southern, Northern, and Beyond