8.3 Flashcards
Define transcription.
Making RNA using a template DNA strand.
Define the central dogma.
DNA makes RNA which makes proteins.
What are the base pairs in RNA?
Adenine pairs with Uracil, Guanine pairs with Cytosine.
What are some differences and similarities between DNA and RNA?
DNA has Thymine, RNA has Uracil. DNA is double-stranded, RNA is single-stranded. DNA has deoxyribose sugars, RNA has ribose sugars. Both have Cytosine, Guanine, and Adenine. Both have a phosphate group, a sugar, and a base for the structure of nucleotides.
What are the parts of a eukaryotic gene and what do they do?
The promoter is the start site of transcription, it usually contains a TATA box, and it signals for transcription factors and RNA polymerases to attach. The enhancer/silencer acts as a switch for transcription, it controls how much RNA is made. The exons will be used for coding in mRNA. The introns will be spliced away.
What are the stages of transcription and what happens during them?
The transcription factor (TF) binds to the promoter, along with the RNA polymerase in stage 1, initiation. In stage 2, elongation, the RNA polymerase separates from the TF and starts making mRNA, and a 5’ cap is added. In stage 3, termination, the introns and some exons (to code for different proteins) are removed from the mRNA.
What happens during splicing and alternative splicing?
The introns are removed from the strand so the exons can code. Some exons may be removed as well so different proteins can be created based off one mRNA.
