2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Life Science and Technology Undergraduate major in Life Science and Technology
Molecular Biology I
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Life Science and Technology
- Instructor(s)
- Yuki Yamaguchi / Yuriko Osakabe / Yasunori Aizawa
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 7-8 Tue / 7-8 Fri
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LST.A208
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 24, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course provides a detailed explanation of the three key processes that constitute the Central Dogma—DNA replication, transcription, and translation—focusing on their molecular mechanisms. In addition, it covers related topics such as DNA repair, DNA recombination, RNA processing, post-translational modification, protein folding, protein quality control, and the ubiquitin-proteasome system.
The primary goal of this course is to provide students with a strong foundation in the cellular processes essential for life. This foundation is necessary for advanced studies in biology and for applied fields such as bioengineering and biotechnology.
Molecular Biology I is designed to be taken in conjunction with Molecular Biology II and Biochemistry I and II. Students are encouraged to enroll in all four courses to receive comprehensive instruction.
Course description and aims
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) Explain in detail the molecular mechanisms of DNA replication, transcription, and translation, which form the core of the Central Dogma.
2) Describe the fundamental molecular mechanisms of processes associated with the Central Dogma, including DNA repair, DNA recombination, RNA processing, post-translational modifications, protein folding, protein quality control, and the ubiquitin-proteasome system.
Keywords
The central dogma, DNA replication, transcription, translation, DNA repair, DNA recombination, RNA processing, chromatin, epigenetics, protein folding, post-translational modification.
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Each class will include a quiz to assess students’ comprehension. Quiz results will be factored into the final grade.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | DNA Structures | Students must understand the structure of the DNA double helix in detail and be able to explain DNA topology and the functions of topoisomerases. Additionally, they must comprehend chromosome and chromatin structures, centromeres, telomeres, and other repetitive sequences, and be able to explain research methodologies related to the genome. |
| Class 2 | DNA replication: an overview | Students must understand and be able to explain the overall mechanisms of DNA replication, including semi-conservative replication, topological issues, and the end-replication problem. |
| Class 3 | Regulation of DNA replication | Students must understand and be able to explain the molecular mechanisms involved in each stage of DNA replication. |
| Class 4 | DNA repair | Students must understand and be able to explain various DNA repair pathways, including direct repair, base excision repair (BER), nucleotide excision repair (NER), mismatch repair, and double-strand break repair. |
| Class 5 | Recombination and mobile genetic elements | Students must understand and be able to explain the molecular mechanisms and physiological significance of homologous recombination, the formation and resolution of Holliday junctions, transposon-mediated transposition, and site-specific recombination. |
| Class 6 | Transcription: an overview | Students must understand and be able to explain gene structure, the types and structures of RNA polymerases, and the mechanisms of transcription initiation, elongation, and termination. |
| Class 7 | Regulation of transcription in bacteria | Students must be able to explain the mechanisms of transcriptional regulation in E. coli, using the lac and trp operons as examples. |
| Class 8 | Regulation of transcription in eukaryotic cells | Students must understand and be able to explain the structures and functions of enhancers and transcriptional regulators unique to eukaryotic cells. |
| Class 9 | Chromatin regulation and epigenetics | Students must understand and be able to explain chromatin-level gene regulation and epigenetic control mechanisms unique to eukaryotic cells. |
| Class 10 | Post-transcriptional modification of mRNA | Students must understand the molecular mechanisms of mRNA capping, splicing, and polyadenylation, and be able to explain the regulatory mechanisms and physiological significance of alternative splicing. |
| Class 11 | Processing of non-coding RNA and RNA degradation | Students must understand and be able to explain the processing of non-coding RNAs, ribozymes, RNA degradation pathways, RNA interference, and RNA quality control mechanisms. |
| Class 12 | Translation: an overview | Students must understand and be able to explain the genetic code, the structures of tRNA and ribosomes, the role of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, and the molecular mechanisms of translation initiation, elongation, and termination. |
| Class 13 | Protein folding and post-translational modification | Students must understand and be able to explain protein folding, the roles of molecular chaperones, and the types and functional significance of post-translational modifications. |
| Class 14 | Protein processing and degradation | Students must understand and be able to explain protein quality control mechanisms, including the ubiquitin-proteasome system and lysosomal degradation pathways. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance learning effectiveness, students are encouraged to dedicate sufficient time to preparation and review for each class, referring to textbooks and other course materials as needed.
Textbook(s)
Molecular Biology of the Cell 6th Ed (Bruce Alberts et al., Garland Science)
Biochemistry, 4th Edition (Donald Voet, Judith G. Voet, Wiley)
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Molecular Biology of the Gene 7th Ed (James D, Watson et al., Pearson)
Evaluation methods and criteria
Quiz: 35 points (2.5 points x 14 times)
Final exam: 65 points
Related courses
- LST.A203 ： Biochemistry I
- LST.A213 ： Molecular Biology II
- LST.A218 ： Biochemistry II
Prerequisites
No prerequisites are required. However, enrollment in Biochemistry I is recommended.
Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).
Yamaguchi: yyamaguc[at]bio.titech.ac.jp, Aizawa: yaizawa[at]bio.titech.ac.jp, Osakabe: osakabe.y.ab[at]m.titech.ac.jp