Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

BIOSCI 107 Part One > Cell Structure and Function - Gene to Protein > Flashcards

Cell Structure and Function - Gene to Protein Flashcards

1
Q

What is a genotype?

A

An organisms hereditary information

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is a phenotype?

A

The observable or physiological traits of an organism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is gene expression?

A

The process of going from DNA to a functional products (typically a protein)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is DNA?

A

is the heritable material that is used to store and transmit information from generation to generation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is RNA?

A

acts as a messenger to allow the information stored in the DNA to be used to make proteins

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is messenger RNA (mRNA)?

A

is a single-stranded RNA molecule that is complementary to one of the DNA strands of a gene

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is transfer RNA (tRNA)?

A

carry amino acids to the ribosome. They act as “bridges,” matching a codon in an mRNA with the amino acid it codes for. It’s the physical link between the mRNA and the amino acid sequence of proteins

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What do proteins do?

A

Carry out cellular functions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are the three stages of gene expression?

A

Transcription, processing and translation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Where does transcription occur?

A

In the nucleus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Where does processing occur?

A

In the nucleus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Where does translation occur?

A

In the cytoplasm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Why is gene expression regulated at transcription?

A

Transcription factors need to correctly assemble and DNA needs to be accessible

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the gene expression regulation at RNA processing?

A

Capping, extending of polyadenylation (i.e tailing) alternate splicing, producing an mRNA able to be translated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the gene expression regulation at translation?

A

regulatory proteins can block translation, variable mRNA life-spans

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Why is controlling gene expression important?

A

Because it needs to achieve the right thing at the right time (temporal and spatial control)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are housekeeping proteins?

A

Proteins continuously produced by DNA

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Main features of housekeeping proteins?

A

Are the more commonly used proteins
Protein and mRNA are present in large quantities (e.g. tubulin)
Typically have long half life in cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What causes the production of other proteins?

A

Cell signalling

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Features of proteins produced by cell signalling as a response to stimuli?

A

They are short lived and carry out their required function

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is the 5’ end of DNA?

A

This is the beginning of the chain and the phosphate group of the first nucleotide sticks out

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is the 3’ end of DNA?

A

This is the end of the chain where the 3’ hydroxyl of the last nucleotide is exposed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What way are DNA sequences read?

A

From the 5’ end to the 3’ end

24
Q

What is transcription?

A

Transcription is the first stage of gene expression. Genetic information encoded in the base-pair triplets of the DNA molecule is copied to RNA molecules

25
What are the three steps of transcription?
Initiation, elongation, termination
26
What is upstream?
The 5' end of DNA (promotor)
27
What is downstream
The 3' end of DNA (terminator)
28
What does RNA have instead of the T nucleotide?
U (Uracil)
29
What is RNA polymerase II?
the main enzyme involved in transcription is RNA polymerase
30
What is the function of RNA polymerase II?
It uses a single-stranded DNA template to synthesise a complementary strand of RNA. Specifically, RNA polymerase builds an RNA strand in the 5' to 3' direction, adding each new nucleotide to the 3' end of the strand
31
What is the first step of transcription?
Initiation
32
What are transcription factors (TFs)?
are proteins that bind to DNA so that the RNA polymerase can bind
33
What is a TATA box?
A promotor sequence of T and A
34
Where is the TATA box located?
25-35 base pairs upstream of the transcription starting site
35
What is the function of the TATA box?
It's recognized by one of the general transcription factors, allowing other transcription factors and eventually RNA polymerase to bind
36
What are promoters?
are specific nucleotide sequences at the start of a gene (upstream) which signal the initiation of RNA synthesis by assembling a complex that includes RNA polymerase II and one or more transcription factors
37
What is the initiation process of transcription?
Assembly of several transcription factors is required including the TATA box binding protein (TBP). Once these proteins have been assembled, RNA Polymerase II can bind to the sequence of DNA (as well as more transcription factors), known as the promoter, to form the transcription initiation complex. This begins transcription
38
What is a transcription initiation complex?
RNA polymerase and various general transcription factors bound to the promoter region
39
What is the second step of transcription?
Elongation
40
What is the process of elongation?
RNA polymerase II moves in a 3' to 5' directions along the DNA strand (template strand) BUT makes mRNA in the 5' to 3' direction As it reads the template strand of DNA, the enzyme builds an RNA molecule out of complementary nucleotides which are added to the growing 3’ end of the transcript The DNA double helix shape reforms as the transcript leaves the template strand. Transcription continues until terminated by a termination signal
41
How many nucleotides are exposed at once in elongation in transcription?
10 to 20 nucleotides when DNA is unwound
42
Is the RNA transcript the same as the non-template strand of DNA?
Yes?? ASK ERINA
43
What is the third step of transcription?
Termination
44
What is a terminator?
The 'stop point' for transcription
45
What is processing?
Capping, tailing and splicing
46
What is capping?
When a modified guanine nucleotide cap is added to the 5' end of the pre-mRNA strand The cap helps to protect the mRNA which has to be transported out of the nucleus via the nuclear pores The guanine cap also provides stability, prevent degradation, assists with translation and aids in transport through the nuclear pores of the cytoplasm.
47
What is tailing?
When 50 to 250 adenine nucleotides are added to the 3' end This provides stability: Increases the redundant code, the longer the tail the longer it takes to degrade the mRNA to reach the coding sequence
48
Why is capping and tailing done?
They are processes that are thought to facilitate export, confer stability and facilitate ribosome binding in cytoplasm
49
What is an intron?
Non-coding regions intervening exons
50
What are exons?
Coding regions (including UTR's)
51
What is a UTR?
Untranslated regions at 5' and 3' ends
52
What is the spliceosome and what is its function?
A large complex of proteins and small RNAs | Introns are removed from the transcript and exons are rejoined to form mature mRNA.
53
Where does splicing occur?
In the spliceosome
54
What is alternative splicing?
A process in which different combinations of exons are joined together. Results in the production of multiple forms of mRNA to from a single pre-mRNA
55
What is a triplet codon?
Three nucleotides on the base sequence coding for an amino acid

BIOSCI 107 Part One (12 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions