Block 2 - Microbial Genetics Flashcards
The entire complement of genes of all chromosomes.
Genome
What is the transfer of DNA from donor bacterium to recipient bacterium by using a bacterial virus as the vehicle?
Transduction
Which genes direct the synthesis of proteins with related functions and which are regulated as a “unit”?
genes of the operon
True or False:
The new double-stranded DNA re-winds into a helix as the parental DNA unwinds exposing more nucleotides to be replicated.
True
Describe “semiconservative replication”.
When the entire chromosome is copied, each double helix consists of one newly synthesized strand of DNA bound to one original parent strand
One entire double-strand of DNA containing multiple genes
[is always DNA, except in RNA viruses.]
Chromosome
This enzyme binds to DNA and inserts complementary nucleotides thereby generating a new strand.
DNA polymerase
What is the result of a frameshift mutation?
A frameshift mutation usually results in missense mutation or in a significantly different, nonfunctional or incomplete protein.
True or False:
The replication of the lagging strand is continuous because of this process of producing short fragments and joining them to the existing strand.
A new fragment is generated each time the replication fork advances a short distance. This process continues throughout the entire replication process until the entire DNA has been replicated.
False
The replication of the lagging strand is discontinous; not continuous.
What is the term for the strand that has the 5’ end of the exposed nucleotide facing toward the replication fork?
In which direction does the newly developing strand grow with regards to the replication fork? Toward the fork or away from the fork?
The “lagging” strand
Grows away from the fork
What are the two types of operon?
inducible and repressible
What assists protein synthesis by serving as a “facilitator” for the mRNA and tRNA functions?
rRNA, “ribosomal RNA”
In DNA, what are the “long chains” of nucleotides?
What does the term “antiparallel” refer to?
strand
The two strands run in opposite directions; i.e. the nucleotide of the 3’ end of one strand pairs up with the nucleotide of the 5’ end of the adjacent strand. Strands are not identical, but are complementary.
What are the genes that are expressed only when certain environmental conditions are present?
(e.g. genes for enzymes of a biosynthetic pathway are expressed only when the appropriate substrate is present, i.e. presence of substrate causes Operator site to be unblocked.)
inducible genes
The mRNA “docks” into what portion of the ribosome?
“into the groove”
When does transcription end?
Transcription ends when the RNA polymerase reaches the termination region of the gene, and the new single-stranded mRNA is released (the DNA re-winds).
Within the operon,
What is the site of the chromosome which controls, by either permitting or blocking, the access of RNA polymerase to the structural genes of the operon site to which the repressor protein binds (or fails to bind)?
operator site