A. Cellular Structure and Function 16-17%
1. Biological compounds
Macromolecular structure and bonding
Abiotic origin of biological molecules
2. Enzyme activity, receptor binding, and regulation
3. Major metabolic pathways and regulation
Respiration, fermentation, and photosynthesis
Synthesis and degradation of macromolecules
Hormonal control and intracellular messengers
4. Membrane dynamics and cell surfaces
Transport, endocytosis, and exocytosis
Electrical potentials and neurotransmitters
Mechanisms of cell recognition, cell junctions,
and plasmodesmata
Cell wall and extracellular matrix
5. Organelles: structure, function, and targeting
6. Cytoskeleton, motility, and shape
Actin-based systems
Microtubule-based systems
Intermediate filaments
Bacterial flagella and movement
7. Cell cycle, growth, division, and regulation
B. Genetics and Molecular Biology 16-17%
1. Genetic foundations
Mendelian inheritance; Pedigree analysis
Prokaryotic genetics (transformation,
transduction, and conjugation)
Genetic mapping
2. Chromatin and chromosomes
Nucleosomes
Karyotypes
Chromosomal aberrations
Polytene chromosomes
3. Genome sequence organization
Introns and exons; Single-copy and
repetitive DNA
Transposable elements
4. Genome maintenance
DNA replication; DNA mutation and repair
5. Gene expression and regulation in prokaryotes
and eukaryotes: mechanisms
The operon; Promoters and enhancers;
Transcription factors; RNA and protein
synthesis; Processing and modifications
of both RNA and protein
6. Gene expression and regulation: effects
Control of normal development; Cancer
and oncogenes
Signaling mechanisms in cells
7. Immunobiology
Cellular basis of immunity; Antibody
diversity and synthesis
Antigen-antibody interactions
8. Bacteriophages, animal viruses, and plant viruses
Viral genomes, replication, and assembly
Virus-host cell interactions
9. Recombinant DNA methodology
Restriction endonucleases; Blotting and
hybridization
Restriction fragment length polymorphisms;
DNA cloning, sequencing, and analysis;
Polymerase chain reaction |
