MCAT Modules - Review

8:3. DNA Libraries and Generating cDNA

Prot —> mRNA —> cDNA —> dsDNA. (Step 2 via reverse transcriptase and step 3 via DNA Polymerase). Now the dsDNA is injected into a virus which infects bacteria to make lot

8:2. Polymerase Chain Reaction

Denaturation (Heat to high temp), Primer Annealing (Cool slightly), Primer Extension via polymerase (Heat but not as much as step 1).

8:1. Gel Electrophoresis

GE find us the length of a DNA Strand (how many base pairs long).

7:5. Applying the HP Equation

Not really sure why I did a module on this - basically you know they’re homo recessive because they have blue eyes (the recessive trait), and you know to use q BECAUSE we

7:4. The Hardy-Weinberg Equation

HP Equation gives P(allele frequencies). P^2 is probability of homo dominant, Q^2 is probability of homo recessive, 2pq is probability of heterozygous allele combo. P = f

7:3. Worked Example: Punnett Squares

Discusses Dihybrid Crosses and the Law of Independent Assortment.

7:2. Co-dominance and Incomplete Dominance

Don’t let the title fool you. This is short. Discusses complete, incomplete, and co-dominance.

7:1. An Introduction to Mendelian Genetics

Discuss genes, alleles, geno/phenotypes, and punnet squares. The Khan Academy video discusses the history (Gregor Mendel) but let’s be real, who cares.

6:5. The Effects of Mutations

Mutations can be good, bad, or both.

6:4. Mutagens and Carcinogens

Define mutagens and then discuss endogenous and exogenous mutagens. (Endo: ROS); (Exo: intercalators, base analogues, carcinogens)

6:3. The Causes of Genetic Mutations

Small scale mutations (point: TTM; frame-shift: ID) and Large-scale mutations (translocation, inversion).

6:2. The Different Types of Mutations

Point, Frame Shift, and Nonsense vs. Missense. Further divided Missense to Silent, Conservative, and Non-Conservative.

6:1. Introduction to Genetic Mutations

Clarifies that mutations arise at the DNA level, and from where mutations originate.

5:7. Tumor Suppressors

Discusses categories of tumor suppressors and then 2 examples: pRb and p53, both proteins.

5:6. Oncogenes

Discusses the 3 mechanisms through which oncogenes are formed from proto-oncogenes, and types of oncogenes with examples.

5:5. Non-Coding RNA

I discuss ncRNAs (RNA that’s ready to perform tasks w/o becoming protein) and then move onto rRNA, tRNA, miRNA, snRNA, and snoRNA. Have fun with all these acronyms lol

5:4. Post-Transcriptional Regulation

Not really an important module but skip to 6:18 for new stuff (RNA Editing via the ADAR and CDAR Enzymes)

5:3. Regulation of Transcription

Discusses GTFs, then discusses activators/repressors and enhancers/silencers. Finally distinguishes between regulation of transcriptional euk and prok organisms.

5:2. DNA and Chromatin Regulation

Discusses HAT and HDAC enzymes to uncoil/coil DNA (uncoil = activate for transcription) then transitioned into DNA methylation as it relates to CpG Islands and MBB’s.

5:1. The Lac Operon - Part 2

More terminology of the Lac Operon mechanism, refined ideas from the first part.