Introduction To Molecular Biology and History

Molecular Biology- BCH 334
Molecular Biology
The study of living things at the level of the molecules which control
them and make them up
Traditional Biology Molecular Biology
Top-down approach Bottom-up approach

Whole living organisms and how To understand living things by examining
the interact with the population the components that make them up
Introduction to Molecular Biology
Molecular biology is a specialized branch of biochemistry,
§ The study of the chemistry of molecules which are specifically
connected to living processes.
Particularly, Central Dogma
Ø DNA
Ø RNA
Ø Protein
Gene:
A segment of a DNA molecule that contains the information required for the
synthesis of a functional biological product, whether protein or RNA
Introduction to Molecular Biology
Central Dogma
Ø The flow of genetic information within a biological system. It is often stated as
"DNA makes RNA, and RNA makes protein” proposed by James Watson (1965),
although this is not its original meaning (stated by Francis Crick)
Ø According to Francis Crick (1970, Nature), The central dogma of molecular
biology deals with the detailed residue-by-residue transfer of sequential
information. It states that such information cannot be transferred from protein to
either protein or nucleic acid.
A brief history/Background
Since 1950s-60s scientist have learned to characterize, isolate and
manipulate molecular components of cells/organism
Ø DNA
Ø RNA
Ø Protein
Early 1600-1800
§ Microscopic biology
Robert Hooke
§ Robert Hooke (1635-1703)
discovered organisms are made
up of cells
§ Matthias Schleiden (1804-

1881) and Theodor Schwann
(1810-1882) further expanded
the study of cells in 1830s Theodor Schwann
§ Cell Theory
Matthias Schleiden
1800 - 1870
Ø 1865 Gregor Mendel discover the basic rules

of heredity of garden pea.
Ø An individual organism has two alternative
heredity units for a given trait (dominant trait
vs. recessive trait)
Mendel: The Father
Ø 1869 Johann Friedrich Miescher discovered a of Genetics
molecule named it nuclein.
Johann Miescher
1880 - 1900
• 1881 Edward Zacharias showed chromosomes are composed
of nuclein
• 1889 Richard Altmann renamed nuclein to nucleic acid.
• By 1900, chemical structures of all 20 amino acids had been

identified
Richard Altmann
1900-1911
§ 1902 - Emil Hermann Fischer wins Nobel

prize: showed amino acids are linked and
form proteins Emil
Fischer
§ 1911 – Thomas Hunt Morgan discovers
genes on chromosomes are the discrete
units of heredity
Thomas
Morgan
1940 - 1950
§ 1941 – George Beadle and

Edward Tatum identify that
genes make proteins
§ 1950 – Edwin Chargaff find George Edward

Cytosine/Guanine and Beadle Tatum
Adenine/Thymine
Edwin Chargaff
1950 - 1952
§ 1950s – Mahlon Bush

Hoagland first to isolate
tRNA Mahlon Hoagland
§ 1952 – Alfred Hershey and

Martha Chase proved that
DNA is the hereditary
material.
1952 - 1960
§ 1952-1953 James D. Watson and

Francis H. C. Crick discovered
the double helical structure of
DNA
James Watson and

§ 1956 George Emil Palade showed
Francis Crick
the site of enzymes manufacturing
in the cytoplasm is made on RNA
organelles called ribosomes.
George Emil Palade

1970-
Ø 1970 Howard Temin and

David Baltimore independently
discovered reverse transcriptase
(RTase or RT) - the enzyme
that polymerizes DNA from an
RNA template.
Ø discovered a distinct class of

viruses, later name retroviruses,
that use an RNA template to
catalyze synthesis of viral DNA
1970-1977
§ 1977 Phillip Sharp and Richard

Roberts demonstrated that pre-
mRNA is processed by the
excision of introns and exons are
spliced together.
Phillip Sharp
**1993 Nobel Prize in Physiology
or Medicine
Richard Roberts
1986 - 1995
Ø 1986 Leroy Hood: Developed

automated sequencing mechanism
Ø 1986 Human Genome Initiative

announced
Leroy Hood
Ø 1995 Moderate-resolution maps of
chromosomes 3, 11, 12, and 22 were
published
Ø These maps provide the locations of

“markers” on each chromosome to
make locating genes easier
1995-1996
Ø 1995 John Craig Venter: First bacterial

genomes sequenced
Ø 1995 Automated fluorescent sequencing

instruments and robotic operations
Ø 1996 First eukaryotic genome-yeast-

sequenced
John Craig Venter
1997-2001
Ø 1999 First human chromosome (number 22) sequenced
Ø 2001 International Human

Genome Sequencing published
the first draft of the sequence
of the human genome
2003- Present
Ø April 2003 Human Genome Project

Completed
Ø Mouse genome is sequenced.
Ø April 2004 Rat genome sequenced.
Ø Next-generation sequencing –
genomes being sequenced by the
dozen
Ø RNA-seq (WTS)
Where are we now ?
Recommended books
1. Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry
2. Lodish Molecular Cell Biology 8th edition

Thank you
See you tomorrow !

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Molecular Biology- BCH 334

Top-down approach Bottom-up approach

§ Matthias Schleiden (1804-

Ø 1865 Gregor Mendel discover the basic rules

• 1889 Richard Altmann renamed nuclein to nucleic acid.

• By 1900, chemical structures of all 20 amino acids had been

§ 1902 - Emil Hermann Fischer wins Nobel

§ 1941 – George Beadle and

§ 1950 – Edwin Chargaff find George Edward

§ 1950s – Mahlon Bush

§ 1952 – Alfred Hershey and

§ 1952-1953 James D. Watson and

James Watson and

George Emil Palade

Ø 1970 Howard Temin and

Ø discovered a distinct class of

§ 1977 Phillip Sharp and Richard

Ø 1986 Leroy Hood: Developed

Ø 1986 Human Genome Initiative

Ø These maps provide the locations of

Ø 1995 John Craig Venter: First bacterial

Ø 1995 Automated fluorescent sequencing

Ø 1996 First eukaryotic genome-yeast-

Ø 1999 First human chromosome (number 22) sequenced

Ø 2001 International Human

Ø April 2003 Human Genome Project

Ø Mouse genome is sequenced.

Ø April 2004 Rat genome sequenced.

1. Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry

2. Lodish Molecular Cell Biology 8th edition

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