B11 DNA and Reproduction Flashcards
What structures contain coiled DNA?
Chromosomes
What kind of molecule is DNA?
A polymer
What do genes do?
Code for (tell cells to produce) a certain sequence of amino acids that form a particular protein
List 3 reasons why understanding the human genome is important:
- Identification of disease related genes
- Developing treatment of genetic illness
- Tracing the historic global migration of certain populations
What are the monomers of DNA?
Nucleotides
What are nucleotides made up of?
A sugar, a phosphate group and one base
How are the sugars and phosphate groups arranged in nucleotides?
In alternating parts
What do the order of bases decide?
The order of amino acids in a protein
How many bases code for an amino acid?
3
Which bases link with which?
A links with T and C links with G
What do ‘non-coding’ parts of DNA do?
Control whether or not a gene is expressed/used to synthesise a protein
Where are proteins assembled?
In the ribosomes
What molecule is created using DNA to aid protein synthesis?
mRNA- messenger RNA
Describe how mRNA is used to synthesise proteins:
- 1 strand of a gene is replicated to form mRNA
- mRNA binds to the ribosome
- tRNA carrier molecules bring amino acids
- Carrier molecules contain an anti-codon at the bottom that is complementary to the mRNA codons (groups of 3 base pairs)
- The carrier molecules bind to the complementary codons, bringing the amino acids into the correct order
What do proteins do once they have been assembled?
They fold into a certain shape.