3.4 genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms Flashcards
1
Q
dna in prokaryotic cells
A
- short, circular and not associated with proteins
2
Q
dna in eukaryotic cells
A
- very long, linear and associated with proteins called histones
- proteins + dna molecule = chromosome
- mitochondria and chloroplasts also have own dna, short and circular (like prokaryotic cells)
3
Q
gene
A
- sequence of dna bases that codes for either a polypeptide or functional rna
4
Q
primary structure of polypeptides
A
order or sequence of amino acids in the polypeptide
5
Q
locus
A
- position of gene on a particular chromosome
6
Q
triplet
A
sequence of 3 DNA bases
7
Q
what do triplets do
A
code for a specific amino acid
8
Q
genetic code is:
A
universal, non overlapping and degenerate
9
Q
non coding DNA
A
- in eukaryotes, a lot of dna doesn’t code for polypeptides
- non coding dna = non coding multiple repeats of base sequences between genes
10
Q
exons
A
- specific sequences between genes that code for amino acid sequences
11
Q
introns
A
- one or more non-coding sequences that separate exons (within the gene)
12
Q
concept of genome
A
- complete set of genes in a cell
13
Q
concept of proteome
A
- full range of proteins that a cell is able to produce
14
Q
structure of messenger RNA (mRNA)
A
- single stranded
- A,U,G,C
- mRNA made during transcription
- carries genetic code from the DNA to the ribosomes, where it is used to make a protein during translation
15
Q
codons in mRNA
A
- group of 3 adjacent bases
16
Q
structure of transfer RNA (tRNA)
A
- involved in translation
- carries amino acids that are used to make proteins to the ribosomes
- single stranded polynucleotide, folded into a clover shape
- hydrogen bonds between specific base pairs hold the molecule in shape
- every tRNA molecule has a specific sequence of three bases at one end called an anti codon
- also has amino binding site at other end
17
Q
transcription
A
- mRNA copy of gene made from DNA
- eukaryotic cells: transcription takes place in nucleus
- prokaryotes don’t have a nucleus, so transcription takes place in cytoplasm
18
Q
transcription in prokaryotes
A
- results directly in production of mRNA from DNA
19
Q
transcription in eukaryotes
A
- results directly in production of pre-mRNA
- then spliced to form mRNA
20
Q
stages of transcription
A
- DNA helix unwinds to expose bases to act as a template
- only one chain of dna acts as a template
- similar to dna replication, unwinding and unzipping is catalysed by dna helicase
- dna helicase breaks hydrogen bonds between bases
- free Mrna nucleotides in the nucleus align opposite exposed complementary dna bases
- enzyme rna polymerase bonds together the rna nucleotides to create a new rna polymer chain
- one entire gene is copied
- once copied, the pre-mrna is modified and then leaves nucleus through nuclear envelope pores