8.4 Study Guide Flashcards
What is the definition of a codon?
A group of three mRNA pieces.
What is a positive transfactor?
The part that allows transcription to start.
What is affinity?
The amount of attraction between molecules.
What is the definition of a mutation?
A change in the base sequences of a molecule of DNA.
What is the role of tRNA?
To carry amino acids to ribosomes.
What are some causes of mutations?
Problems in DNA replication, mutagens (gamma, UV, etc), and viral infections.
What are the different types of point mutation?
Silent (doesn’t change any proteins), missense (changes 1 amino acid), and nonsense (gene change causes a stop codon).
What are frameshift mutations?
Insertions or deletions in the DNA that cause a shift in the reading frame and change things “downstream.”
How is protein production affected by positive transfactor affinity strength?
The more affinity the positive TF has, the more it will stick to the mRNA and allow it to be transcribed into proteins.
