Molecular Biology
DNA replication, transcription, translation, gene regulation, mutations, and biotech
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📂 Subtopics in Molecular Biology
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1→
DNA Replication & Repair
Replication enzymes and DNA repair mechanisms
2→
Transcription & RNA Processing
RNA synthesis, splicing, and post-transcriptional regulation
3→
Translation & Protein Synthesis
Codons, ribosomes, and translational control
4→
Biotechnology Methods
PCR, electrophoresis, blotting, and gene editing tools
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Molecular Biology for the MCAT
DNA Replication
Semiconservative replication:
- Helicase unwinds DNA
- Primase lays RNA primer
- DNA Pol III extends 5'→3'
- Ligase seals Okazaki fragments on lagging strand
Transcription
RNA polymerase reads template 3'→5', synthesizes mRNA 5'→3'.
Post-transcriptional processing:
- 5' cap (7-methylguanosine)
- 3' poly-A tail
- Intron splicing (alternative splicing → multiple proteins from one gene)
Translation
- Start codon: AUG (methionine)
- Stop codons: UAA, UAG, UGA
- tRNA anticodon pairs with mRNA codon
Biotechnology
- PCR: Amplifies DNA using primers + Taq polymerase + thermal cycling
- Gel electrophoresis: Separates by size (smaller = faster)
- CRISPR-Cas9: Gene editing with guide RNA
- Blots: Southern (DNA), Northern (RNA), Western (protein) — SNOWdrop
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is Molecular Biology?▾
DNA replication, transcription, translation, gene regulation, mutations, and biotech
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Molecular Biology is part of the MCAT Prep course on Study Mondo, specifically in the Biological & Biochemical Foundations section. You can explore the full course for more related topics and practice resources.