Cloning, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

http://www.dnalc.org/ddnalc/resources/animations.html

Cell cycle

The cell cycle, is the series of events that take place in a eukaryotic cell leading to its replication.

The cell cycle consists of four distinct phases: G1 phase, S phase, G2 phase (collectively known as interphase) and M phaseActivation of each phase is dependent on the proper progression and completion of the previous one. Cells that have temporarily or reversibly stopped dividing are said to have entered a state of quiescence called G0 phase.

1- M phase

The relatively brief M phase consists of nuclear division (karyokinesis) and cytoplasmic division (cytokinesis). In plants and algae, cytokinesis is accompanied by the formation of a new cell wall. The M phase has been broken down into several distinct phases, sequentially known as prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase leading to cytokinesis.

2- Interphase

After M phase, the daughter cells each begin interphase of a new cycle. Although the various stages of interphase are not usually morphologically distinguishable, each phase of the cell cycle has a distinct set of specialized biochemical processes that prepare the cell for initiation of cell division.

a. G1 phase
The first phase within interphase, from the end of the previous M phase till the beginning of DNA synthesis is called G1 (G indicating gap or growth). During this phase the biosynthetic activities of the cell, which had been considerably slowed down during M phase, resume at a high rate. This phase is marked by synthesis of various enzymes that are required in S phase, mainly those needed for DNA replication. Duration of G1 is highly variable, even among different cells of the same species.

b. S phase
The ensuing S phase starts when DNA synthesis commences; when it is complete, all of the chromosomes have been replicated, i.e., each chromosome has two (sister) chromatids. Thus, during this phase, the amount of DNA in the cell has effectively doubled.

c. G2 phase
The cell then enters the G2phase, which lasts until the cell enters mitosis. Again, significant protein synthesis occurs during this phase, mainly involving the production of microtubules, which are required during the process of mitosis. Inhibition of protein synthesis during G2 phase prevents the cell from undergoing mitosis.

Referances:-

homepage.mac.com/enognog/checkpoint.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_cycle

Breast cancer

For those who are working in breast cancer project, go to this web site:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?highlight=genetics&rid=cmed6.section.30813#30819

Mendel’s Principles of Inheritance

Inherited traits are transmitted by genes which occur in alternate forms called alleles

• Principle of Dominance - when 2 forms of the same gene are present the dominant allele is expressed
• Principle of Segregation - in meiosis two alleles separate so that each gamete receives only one form of the gene
• Principle of Independent Assortment - each trait is inherited independent of other traits (chance)
  

Mendel laws

Gregor Mendel studied the garden pea height, flower color, seed coat color, and seed shape over many generations. He chose 1 or 2 traits per generation to watch acrossed plants with different traits and learned that offspring usually had dominate trait.

No matter what trait he selected for the second generation would show traits at a ratio of 3 to 1 (3 dominat

Mendel found that the inheritance of traits was not due to blending but instead specific traits or units of inheritance were passed from generation to generation we call those units of inheritance genes.