The Basic Principles of Gene Cloning and DNA Analysis

Gene cloning is one of the most important techniques in biotechnology and modern molecular biology. It is the same technique that was used in the Human Genome Project that successfully determined the sequences of almost all the genetic content of the chromosomes of humans. Moreover, the very first commercially available recombinant product "Insulin" was also the result of gene cloning.

The technique has been used in a wide variety of studies and has great importance from the industrial point of view as well. It is, thus, important to have an idea of what gene cloning is and how it works. This course describes the basic principles of gene cloning in a simple way and is based on the book "Gene Cloning and DNA analysis" by T.

A. Brown. The course has a number of lectures on topics such as vectors used for gene cloning, purification of DNA, synthesis of recombinant DNA molecules, the introduction of DNA into living cells, selection of the transformed cells, selection of the desired recombinants, polymerase chain reaction and DNA analysis using gel electrophoresis.

Each section/module has at least 1 Quiz in order to test the knowledge that you'll gain in the respective section/module. Apart from lectures and quizzes, the course consists of a mid-term and a final term; each of which consists of a practice test and an assignment. Practice tests are of particular importance as, unlike quizzes, they are not based on the knowledge but on the application of the knowledge that you'll gain in this course.