"Biology has at least 50 more interesting years." - James Watson

Supplementary videos

Rosalind Franklin: the "dark lady"
Topoisomerase: the knotty problem of unwinding a double helix
DNA replication animation: DNA polymerase acts as a dimer
DNA replication animation: 3-D view (HHMI)
Proofreading of DNA polymerase corrects replication errors
Telomeres and telomerase: replication problem of linear DNA
A mutation story: why can dogs synthesize vitamin C, but not humans?
Chromosome mutations: translocation & Inversion
Jumping genes: the perfect parasite?

Extra credit readings

• 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine: Telomeres Scientific American 12/5/09
• Telomerase's New Talent Science Now 8/17/05
• 'Jumping Genes' Create Diversity In Human Brain Cells ScienceDaily 8/6/09
• Sleeping Beauty Plays a Significant Role in Identifying Cancer Genes National Cancer Institute 7/13/05

Additional material

• Photo 51: interpreting the X-ray diffraction
• How much DNA do you have?
• How many mutations do your cells have?
• Base substitution mutation mechanism: tautomeric shift

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