carlmartin

Yes, been going from one page to another in openwetware.org. Some things make sense and others are totally foreign. Same goes for the genotype notation am looking at Biobricks at the moment and already scratching my head.

Thank you so much for the explanations, Andreea. I appreciate that.

Have a great day!

Thank you very much phage434 and ascacioc. I was reading about molecular biology to prepare ahead of my final year. I understand that I am still a long way out and I appreciate your taking the time to explain. Could not really sleep with so many question marks floating about but I am happy to put some of these away.

Just to note here: when I mentioned "phenotype", I was thinking along the line of a new "characteristics" conferred by the new gene. Maybe that was inaccurate and I got mixed up with Drosophila genetics The PET system is fascinating (first impression) but I am not looking to make so many proteins. Just mutant bacterial clones.

To recap what I learned:

• genes shown on maps have promoters even though they are not shown
  
• cloning sites have promoters to express an inserted gene
  
• origin of replication & others are specific to the type of host it
  
• I think T7 promoters are from the same T7 bacteriophage
  
• there are so many bacteria host out there

If someone could help me with a few more questions:

• What happens if the gene I put into the plasmid has a promoter? Will it cause a problem since transcription has to start twice; once at the resident promoter of the plasmid and another time at the new promoter?
  
• Any particular reference book (besides the internet) to point me to? Or is it all about experience?

Going forward I am sure I will have more questions and I will try to find out the answers by myself first.