Human Diseases: From DNA to Chromosomes - Class Materials 

Junior Doctor Program - Human Diseases: From DNA to Chromosome

Program Agenda | April 5, 2026 | The Health Museum

1:00 PM | Introduction, Lab Safety (10 min) (Dr. Shixia Huang, Dr. Sri Chalasani & Danica Du)

1:10 PM | Intro Talk: “What Is Molecular Biology?” (15 min) (Dr. Weiyi Peng, University of Houston)

Basic cell structure, DNA → RNA → Protein, chromosomes

1:25 PM | Lecture: From Mutations to Diseases (25 min) (Mr. Steve Farmer, Ph.D. student)

Case 1: Sickle Cell Disease and CRISPR

·   Mutation in β-globin

·   Gene editing concept

·   Ethical considerations

Case 2: Cancer as a Genetic Disease

• Oncogenes vs tumor suppressors

• Targeted therapy (e.g., Ras inhibitors)

Case 3: Liquid biopsy

• cell-free DNA

Case 4: Production of Protein Drugs

• Gene cloning

• Protein expression in cell culture and animal

1:50 PM | Break Time and Visualization of mammalian cells using light microscopy (30 min)
              (Mr. Steve Farmer & Ms. Vicky Chuong).
              Students will be divided into 3-4 groups.
              Each group will have a chance to look at cells labeled with green and red fluorescent proteins,
                and DAPI for nuclei, for 5-10 min.

2:20 PM | Hands-On activity: Collect your own DNA (25 min) (Danica Du, Dr. Ming Zhao)

2:45 PM | Chromosomes and human diseases (with games) (15 min)
              (Dr. Ming Zhao, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center)

3:00 PM | Q&A: Genetic codes, mutations, and protein functions (15 min)
              (Ms. Vicky Chuong, Ph.D. student)

         Design some questions to ask about what kinds of DNA mutations may cause diseases, such as silent,
        missense, and nonsense mutations

3:15 PM | Group Discussion: The biomedical applications of molecular biology (10 min)
              (Dr. Weiyi Peng & Ms. Vicky Chuong)

          Each group will discuss their ideas about the applications of molecular biology

3:25 PM | Wrap-up (5 min) (Dr. Shixia Huang & Dr. Sri Chalasani)