Molecular Biology – Part 3: RNA Processing and Translation
An in-depth adventure through RNA Processing and Translation. Strengthen your scientific thinking and biological experimental design skills.
Molecular Biology – Part 3: RNA Processing and Translation
An in-depth adventure through RNA Processing and Translation. Strengthen your scientific thinking and biological experimental design skills.
In Part 3 of the 7.28x Molecular Biology Series, you will explore translation of mRNA to protein, a key part of the central dogma of biology. Do you know how RNA structure and mechanisms of turnover affect the outcome of translation? Although not explicitly named in the central dogma, the properties and processing mechanisms of RNA molecules strongly influence gene expression.
What you'll learn
- How to compare and contrast translation in bacteria and eukaryotes.
- How to describe the interactions between proteins and RNA in regulating translation.
- How to differentiate mechanisms of RNA turnover.
- How to analyze protein structures to infer functional information.
- How to design the best experiment to test a hypothesis.
- How to interpret data from translation and RNA processing experiments.
Prerequisites
7.00x Introduction to Biology, 7.03x Genetics, 7.05x Biochemistry or similar (biochemistry, molecular biology, and genetics), 7.28.1x, and 7.28.2x Molecular Biology or similar (advanced understanding of the central dogma).
Meet your instructors
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HHMI Investigator; Professor of Biology at MIT -
Director of Blended and Online Initiatives; Lecturer, Department of Biology -
Instructor of Blended and Online Initiatives, Department of Biology -
MITx Digital Learning Fellow, Department of Biology -
Digital Learning Fellow, Department of Biology
Stephen Bell
Stephen Bell
HHMI Investigator; Professor of Biology at MIT
Steve Bell is a Professor of Biology in the Department of Biology at MIT and an HHMI Investigator. Steve and his lab study the regulation of eukaryotic replication using biochemical, genetic, and molecular biology approaches. He has received the institute-wide Everett Moore Baker Memorial Teaching Award as well as a School of Science Teaching Prize for Excellence in Undergraduate Education. Along with Tania, Steve co-authored a popular molecular biology textbook with James Watson.
Mary Ellen Wiltrout
Mary Ellen Wiltrout
Director of Blended and Online Initiatives; Lecturer, Department of Biology
Mary Ellen earned her Ph.D. from the Department of Biology at MIT in 2009 and returned in 2013 to create 7.00x Introduction to Biology with Professor Eric Lander. Mary Ellen oversees the execution and evolution of MIT Department of Biology’s digital learning strategy. The group develops digital learning content for MIT students, advises evidence-based teaching practices, creates MITx courses, and studies the impact of design on learner engagement in their research. In 2016, Mary Ellen earned the MIT Infinite Mile Award. In 2019, their work received a silver award at the Reimagine Education science of learning category.
Darcy Gordon
Darcy Gordon
Instructor of Blended and Online Initiatives, Department of Biology
As a core member of the MITx Biology course development team, Darcy blends her pedagogical and scientific expertise to foster authentic learning experiences online, including the creation of visual resources and assessments. Previously, she completed her Ph.D. in the Traniello lab studying the evolutionary neurobiology of social insects, and additionally developed curricula for outreach programs while at Boston University.
Sera Thornton
Sera Thornton
MITx Digital Learning Fellow, Department of Biology
Dr. Sera Thornton was an MITx Digital Learning Fellow in the Department of Biology at MIT from 2014 to 2017. In conjunction with her role as a core member of the MITx Biology course development team, Sera curated and created many of the graphics for MITx Biology courses, including animating the lecture video inserts for MITx 7.28x. She previously completed her Ph.D. studying epigenetic gene regulation in stem cell lineage commitment and differentiation in the Boyer lab at MIT.
Swati Carr
Swati Carr
Digital Learning Fellow, Department of Biology
Dr. Swati Carr was a Digital Learning Lab Fellow in the Department of Biology at MIT from 2016-2018. As part of her role as a core member of the MITx Biology course development team, Swati developed and tested assessments for their courses. She completed her Ph.D. by developing methodology for improving the predictability of engineered genetic device behavior in the Densmore lab at Boston University.