Central dogma (biology, process) Flashcards
why is DNA semiconservative?
what enzyme is used for replication? what does it require?
semi- conservative replication- parent strand and new strand,
Enzyme: DNA polymerase
• Requires: DNA template
accurate reliability
why is the 3’ hydroxyl important and where does the energy for DNA replication from?
incoming strand has three phosphates, important bc u release energy when 2 of the phosphate bond is broken, enzyme converts this energy into new bond between last phosphate and hydroxyl, resulting in extended DNA polymer, and releases pyrophosphate
o DNA polymerase NEEDS a 3’ hydroxyl to add onto
what is the central dogma?
• Description of the way info flows in the cell typically. Info is stored in dna, replicated, copied into RNA then to proteins (built from ribosomes)
what are genes? what is gene expression?
Gene: a discrete unit of heredity information consisting of a specific sequence of nucleotides in DNA.
Gene expression: the process by which DNA DIRECTS THE SYNTHESIS OF PRODUCTS- when and how much a gene is expressed, all the way to the production of protein (not always)
what is transcription?
DNA to RNA,the process by which the information in a strand of DNA is copied into a new molecule of messenger RNA (mRNA).
what is DNA for? RNA?
DNA is long term memory/ information storage
RNA can be the messenger/carrier of this info
what is the template for RNA formation?
DNA is template for RNA formation
How is DNA replication similar to RNA transcription? How are they different?
Form is different, but the language is the same. DNA and RNA are almost the same molecularly. Both depend on the dna template and base pairing of nucleic acids. Different bc nature of daughter strand, RNA instead of DNA, and Thymine vs uracil.
what is the transcription enzyme? template?
Transcription enzyme: RNA polymerase
Transcription template: DNA template, doesn’t need a hydroxyl
what is the promoter? start and stop point?
: where enzyme binds, determines direction, always happens 5’ to 3’ prime
• Transcription start point: where new strand starts
• Transcription stop: where it stops
what is the transcription unit? promoter? terminator? (eukaryotic)
Transcription unit: the portion of the DNA that is transcribed into RNA
Promoter: Defines the transcription start point
Terminator: defines transcription stop point
what are the 3 types of RNA and their functions? (eukaryotic)
mRNA: messenger RNA (only these are translated into proteins)
rRNA: ribosomal RNA
tRNA: Transfer RNA
what do eukaryotes do during mRNA processing?
Eukaryotes modify their mRNA before translation
• Possible because: of separation between transcription (in nucleus) and translation (in cytoplasm or ER membrane)
what are introns?
The transcription unit of a protein-coding gene—the RNA-coding sequence contains non-protein-coding intervening sequences called introns that interrupt the protein-coding sequence The introns are transcribed into pre-mRNAs but are removed from pre-mRNAs during processing in the nucleus.
what are exons?
The amino acid–coding sequences that are retained in finished mRNAs are expressed and therefore called exons.