2.7 dna replication, transcription & translation Flashcards
why is dna replication semi-conservative?
because when a new double-stranded DNA molecule is formed:
One strand will be from the original template molecule
One strand will be newly synthesised
how was the theory that DNA replication was semi-conservative confirmed?
with the Meselson-Stahl experiment in 1958
describe the 3 hypotheses for dna replication
- conservative: An entirely new molecule is synthesised from a DNA template (which remains unaltered)
- semi-conservative: Each new molecule consists of one newly synthesised strand and one template strand
- dispersive model: New molecules are made of segments of new and old DNA
describe the Meselson-Stahl experiment
- Nitrogen is a key component of DNA and can exist as a heavier N-15 or a lighter N-14
- DNA molecules were prepared using the heavier 15N and then induced to replicate in the presence of the lighter 14N
- DNA samples were then separated via centrifugation to determine the composition of DNA in the replicated molecules
results of the Meselson-Stahl experiment
After one division, DNA molecules were found to contain a mix of 15N and 14N, disproving the conservative model
After two divisions, some molecules of DNA were found to consist solely of 14N, disproving the dispersive model
what does helicase do?
Helicase unwinds the double helix and separates the two polynucleotide strands
It does this by breaking the hydrogen bonds that exist between complementary base pairs
The two separated polynucleotide strands will act as templates for the synthesis of new complementary strands
what does dna polymerase do?
DNA polymerase synthesises new strands from the two parental template strands
Free deoxynucleoside triphosphates (nucleotides with 3 phosphate groups) align opposite their complementary base partner
DNA polymerase cleaves the two excess phosphates and uses the energy released to link the nucleotide to the new strand
what does PCR stand for?
polymerase chain reaction
what is PCR?
an artificial method of replicating DNA under laboratory conditions, used to amplify large quantities of a specific sequence of DNA from an initial minute sample
what is Taq polymerase?
an enzyme isolated from the thermophilic bacterium Thermus aquaticus, extends the nucleotide chain from the primers
what is transcription
the process by which an RNA sequence is produced from a DNA template
direction of transcription
5’ to 3’
describe the process of transcription (4)
- RNA polymerase separates the DNA strands and synthesises a complementary RNA copy from one of the DNA strands
- When the DNA strands are separated, ribonucleoside triphosphates align opposite their exposed complementary base partner
- RNA polymerase removes the additional phosphate groups and uses the energy from this cleavage to covalently join the nucleotide to the growing sequence
- Once the RNA sequence has been synthesised, RNA polymerase detaches from the DNA molecule and the double helix reforms
gene
The sequence of DNA that is transcribed into RNA
antisense strand
The DNA strand that is transcribed and is complementary to the RNA sequence