8.3 Flashcards
What is the process of Transcription?
The process by which the genetic information in DNA is copied into RNA.
Transcription is the first step in the central dogma of molecular biology.
What is the Central dogma of molecular biology?
The framework that describes the flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein.
It outlines the processes of replication, transcription, and translation.
What are the base pairing rules for RNA?
Adenine pairs with Uracil, and Cytosine pairs with Guanine.
These rules differ from DNA, where Adenine pairs with Thymine.
What are the differences between DNA and RNA?
- DNA is double-stranded
- RNA is single-stranded
- DNA contains Thymine, RNA contains Uracil
- DNA is stable, RNA is less stable
These differences affect their functions in the cell.
What are the similarities between DNA and RNA?
- Both are nucleic acids
- Both contain the sugar ribose (in RNA) or deoxyribose (in DNA)
- Both are involved in the storage and expression of genetic information
Despite their differences, both play crucial roles in genetics.
What are the parts of a eukaryotic gene?
- Enhancer
- Promoter
- Exons
- Introns
These components are essential for the regulation and expression of genes.
What is an Enhancer?
A DNA sequence that increases the likelihood of transcription of a particular gene.
Enhancers can be located far from the gene they regulate.
What is a Promoter?
A DNA sequence that initiates transcription of a gene.
Promoters are typically located near the transcription start sites.
What are Exons?
The coding sequences of a gene that are expressed in the final mRNA product.
Exons are retained during RNA splicing.
What are Introns?
The non-coding sequences of a gene that are removed during RNA splicing.
Introns are important for regulatory functions and alternative splicing.
What are the stages of transcription?
- Initiation
- Elongation
- Termination
Each stage plays a critical role in the synthesis of RNA from the DNA template.
What happens during the Initiation stage of transcription?
The RNA polymerase binds to the promoter region of the gene.
This stage marks the beginning of transcription.
What occurs during the Elongation stage of transcription?
The RNA polymerase synthesizes the RNA strand by adding nucleotides complementary to the DNA template.
This stage continues until the RNA polymerase reaches a termination signal.
What happens during the Termination stage of transcription?
The RNA polymerase detaches from the DNA, and the newly synthesized RNA molecule is released.
This stage concludes the transcription process.
What happens during the splicing process?
Introns are removed, and exons are joined together to form a continuous coding sequence in the mRNA.
Splicing ensures that only the coding regions of the gene are expressed.
What is alternative splicing?
The process by which different combinations of exons are joined, producing multiple mRNA variants from a single gene.
This increases the diversity of proteins that can be produced by a single gene.
