Cells and the central dogma: overview

Abstract

This POGIL learning-cycle activity introduces the central dogma of biology, highlighting similarities and differences in the various steps in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.  It is designed for undergraduate students with some basic biology background and is suitable as a refresher on the basic ideas of the central dogma. It should prepare students for learning about more advanced topics like operons and alternative splicing. After completing the activity, students will be able to identify proteins as key functional molecules in cells, compare and contrast prokaryotes and eukaryotes, and diagram the steps of the central dogma in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.  

Level: Undergraduate

Setting: Classroom

Activity Type: Learning Cycle

Discipline: Microbiology

Course: Molecular Microbiology

Keywords: Central dogma, prokaryotes, eukaryotes, microbiology, molecular biology