cellular control Flashcards
what is a mutation
Change in sequence of base pairs
may results in altered polypeptide
3 types of factors that increase the risk of mutations
physical
chemical
biological
what are physical mutagens and how do they work
ionising radiation - X rays
break DNA strands
what are chemical mutagens and how do they work
deaminating agents
chemically alter bases in DNA
e.g - converting cytosine to uracil
what are biological mutagens and how do they work
alkylating agents
(methyl / ethyl groups attaching to bases - incorrect pairing)
base analogs
(inserted into DNA in stead of usual base)
viruses
(viral DNA insert into genome - changing sequence)
how might mutations not effect the phenotype
masking
degenerate – many different triplets code for same amino acid = no effect
occur in non-coding sections
what are mutations that dont effect phenotype called
silent mutations
how do mutations occur
insertion of nucleotides
deletion of nucleotides
substitution of nucleotides
effect of insertion of nucleotides
changes amino acid
also has knock on effect further along DNA sequence – frameshift mutation
dramatically changes sequence
effect of deletion of nucleotides
changes triplet
knock on effect – frameshift mutation
effect of substitution of nucleotides
only change amino acid for the triplet – no knock on effect
types of substitution mutations
silent
missence
nonsense
what is a missence mutation
alters single amino acids in chain – sickle cell anaemia
what is nonsense mutation
creates a premature stop codon – polypeptide chain incomplete – cystic fibrosis
what is a silence mutation
does not alter amino acid sequence = degenerate
generally changes in 2nd / 3rd base
give an example of a beneficial mutation to humans
early humans Africa – dark skin due to high conc of melanin
provided protection from harmful UV radiation – still allowing vitamin D to be synthesised
as humans moved into cooler – mutations caused decrease in melanin
paler skin – selective advantage – synthesis more vitamin D
= lighter skin absorbs less UVB
= cooler climates – already low levels
= need as much as can get
example of harmful mutation
genetic diseases – cystic fibrosis
loss of function of protein
example of neutral mutations
ability to taste bitter tasting chemicals in brussel sprouts
what is a chromosome mutation vs gene mutation
gene mutations – occur in single genes
chromosome mutations – affect whole chromosome / number of chromosomes
how would chromosome mutations occur
deletion – section of chromosome breaks off
duplication – sections copied on chromosome
translocation – section of 1 chromosome breaks off + joins non-homologous chromosome
inversion – section of chromosome breaks off + is reversed + joins back on
what is the purpose of regulatory mechanisms
ensure correct genes expressed in correct cells at correct time
allows for specialisation of cells
what are the levels of regulation
transcriptional level
post-transcriptional level
translational level
post translational level
examples of regulation at transcriptional level
lac operon / transcription factors / chromatin remodelling / histone modification
examples of regulation at post-transcriptional level
editing of primary mRNA + removal of introns
examples of regulation at translational level
degradation of mRNA
examples of regulation at post - translational level
activation of proteins by cyclic AMP
what is a structural gene
codes for proteins that function within a cell
what is a regulatory gene
codes for proteins / RNA that control expression of structural genes
what is heterochromatin
tightly wound DNA
what is euchromatin
loosely wound DNA in interphase
what is chromatin remodelling
Simple form of regulation that ensures proteins needed for cell division are made in time
how does chromatin remodelling act as a regulatory mechanism
transcription of genes can not occur for heterochromatin
RNA polymerase cant access genes
Protein synthesis only occurs during interphase
benefits of chromatin remodelling
prevents energy-consuming protein synthesis happening in cell division