This document provides an overview of the Introduction to Molecular Biology course. It introduces the instructor, Hasan Alhaddad, and provides information about course materials, lectures, exams, grading, and expectations. Key details include multiple choice exams, a cumulative final exam worth 40%, optional bonus stories for extra credit, and a focus on DNA, RNA, proteins, and related molecular processes in living organisms.

1. Lecture 1:
General Introduction
Course 281
Introduction to Molecular Biology

2. AIMS
• You and I.
• What is the class all about?
• Class webpage and lectures.
• Textbook and readings.
• Attendance.
• Lecturing style.
• Exams and questions’ style.
• Bonus stories.
• Some Biology: The molecules.

3. Who am I?
• My name is Hasan Alhaddad.
• Ph.D. in Genetics from UC
Davis.
• Studied insects and cats and
does population and evolutionary
genetics for fun.
• I love science and I like to share
this love with everybody
especially you.

4. Where you find me?
• My office is in
1KH room # 45.
• My lab is in 2KH
room # 103.
• I mostly stay in
the lab!

5. When you find me?
• My office hours: TBA.
• My email is:
• hassan.alhaddad@ku.edu.kw
• hhalhaddad@gmail.com
• If you cannot make it to office hours, email me
and we can arrange an alternative time.

6. Who are you?
State your name

7. Class Material and Announcements
hagenetics.org

8. Class Material and Announcements
hagenetics.org

9. Assigned Textbook
• Buying and reading
the book is your
responsibility.
• Please DON’T ask
me if you need the
book.

10. Lecturing Style
• You will be RESPONSIBLE for the chapters’
readings.
• I may use material that is not included in the
book. Make sure you follow me in the class.
• My powerpoint slides will be uploaded to class
webpage (check table). It is YOUR JOB to print
them and take notes during my lecture.
• There are no stupid questions. So ask me and
do not get lost.

11. Attendance
• I DON’T take attendance. You are a responsible
student and you want to learn. No points only for
showing up!

12. Testing style
• My exams are composed of multiple choice
exams.
• Questions vary in difficulty.
• Exams dates are fixed (see syllabus).
• I WILL NOT change the dates of the exams.
• If study and read the questions carefully, you
can get a full mark.
• You MUST take all exams.

13. Testing style
• The capital of the State of Kuwait is ……
a. Jabriya
b. Kuwait City
c. Dasman
d. Khaldiya
e. Alzahra
• Which of the following is a fruit?
a. Orange
b. Apple
c. Onion
d. (a) and (b)
e. (b) and (c)

14. Testing style
• The genetic material is represented by …
a. DNA
b. Chromosomes
c. Proteins
d. Not (b)
e. Not (c)
• The molecule that will be studied in this class is
a. DNA
b. m-RNA
c. t-RNA
d. Protein
e. All of the above

15. Grade distribution
Test 1 20%
60%
Test 2 20%
Test 3 20%
Test 4 20%
Final Exam 40%
Total 100%
The lowest score
will be dropped !
Cumulative Final !

16. Bonus Stories
• This is optional!
• You can earn up to 5 percentage points by
submitting 5 stories.
• Each story is worth up to 1 point.
• The stories will be graded.
• If your stories are not good, you will not get
points.
What do you mean by stories?

17. Bonus Stories - examples

18. Bonus Stories
You When are the stories due?
• Story # 1: Exam 4 Day - before the exam.
• Story # 2: Final Exam Day - before the exam.
Your story must be typed and NO handwritten
stories will be accepted!

19. About the course
This class is about the molecules of life !
DNA RNA ProteinTranscription
Translation
structure
structure
structure
Chemical composition
Genomics Transcriptomics Proteomics
Chemical composition
Genetic material
Chemical composition
Genetic material
DNA replication
Mutation
DNA repair
DNA damage Types
regulation
Types
regulation

20. Expectations
• You know me, my office location, my contacts and
that my job is to teach and help you.
• You understand your rights and responsibilities.
• You understand my lecturing style, my exams
format, and grading system.
• You know it is going to be a fun learning
experience.
• You have a general idea about the molecules of
life.

21. For a smile