4.1 DNA, Genes & Chromosomes Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a gene?

A

A section of DNA that codes for a protein which controls a characteristic

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2
Q

What is a chromosome?

A

A long piece of DNA containing many genes, supercoiled so it fits into the nucleus

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3
Q

What are histones?

A

Proteins that supercoil

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4
Q

How many chromosomes do humans have in their somatic cells?

A

46 (23 pairs)

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5
Q

What are somatic cells?

A

Cell of a living organism other than the reproductive cells

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6
Q

Where in the cell are chromosomes stored?

A

Nucleus

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7
Q

Why is the order of DNA bases important for the production of a protein?

A

The order of bases will determine the order of amino acids
The order of amino acids will determine where bonds form
Where bonds form will determine the structure of the protein

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8
Q

How many bases code for one amino acid?

A

3

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9
Q

What does degenerate mean?

A

Some amino acids have more than one codon or triplet

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10
Q

What does non-overlapping mean?

A

A base can only be part of one codon

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11
Q

What does universal mean?

A

All organisms use the same DNA code

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12
Q

How can the size of a protein be calculated?

A

number of base pairs / 3 = number of amino acids

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13
Q

Compare eukaryotic and prokaryotic DNA.

A

Eukaryotic is linear Prokaryotic is circular
Eukaryotic has associated histones Prokaryotic is naked
Eukaryotic is longer
Eukaryotic has introns Prokaryotic does not
Both use the same nucleotide structure
DNA in mitochondria and chloroplasts is very similiar to prokaryotic

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14
Q

How much of the DNA codes for proteins?

A

4%

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15
Q

What is an intron?

A

A non-coding piece of DNA within a gene

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16
Q

What is an exon?

A

A coding piece of DNA

17
Q

Where would a DNA mutation most affect enzyme function?

A

The sequence that codes for the active site

18
Q

How do bases stabilise the structure of DNA?

A

Bases held together by hydrogen bonds
Many hydrogen bonds provide strength

19
Q

Why can sections of stained homologous chromosomes look different?

A

Different alleles
Different coiling round histones
Different charges