BBOL- DNA, RNA and Proteins Flashcards
Why is it important?
- Identifying disease genes
- Treating cancer
- Human identity
- Safe prescription
- Gene therapy
- Antibiotics
- Drug targets
What are the key features of inheritance?
- Mendel- traits are determined by discrete genes (section of DNA)
- Homozygous and heterozygous
- Dominant and recessive
- Not true for all traits
What are the features of dominant genes?
- Either sex and either parent
- 50% chance of being affected assuming heterozygous paremt
What are the features of recessive genes?
- Affected people usually born to unaffected parents
- Parents usually asymptomatic carriers
- Affects either sex
What is complex inheritance?
May involve interaction between two or more genes or gene-environment interactions
What is variable penetrance?
Possible to inherit risk without disease being triggered and manifesting
What is ‘anticipation’?
Genetic disorder passed onto next generation, apparent at earlier age
What is imprinting?
Causes genes to be expressed in a parent-of-origin specific manner, both allele in a heterozygote can be equally expressed
What are the features of the nucleus?
- Nuclear envelope
- Nucleic acids
- Nucleosomes
- Nuclear pores
- Nucleolus
What is a nucleosome?
Spherical body formed by coils of chromatin. Nucleosomes in turn coiled to form fibres that make up chromosomes
What is the nucleolus?
- Round/oval body in nucleus of eukaryotic cell, contains DNA and RNA. Also produces rRNA.
What are the types of bases?
- Pyrimidine: cytosine, thymine and uracil
- Purine: adenine and guanine
How do nucleotides link together?
- Through phosphodiester bond, phosphate links 3’ carbon atom to 5’ carbon atom of neighbouring sugar
