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Biology > Central Dogma of Molecular Biology > Flashcards

Central Dogma of Molecular Biology Flashcards

1
Q

What is a gene ?

A

The recipe to make a protein

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2
Q

Where are genes found ?

A

They are found in DNA

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3
Q

What is a chromosome ?

A

A full length DNA molecule

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4
Q

What is a chromatid ?

A

DNA stored in a highly compact state

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5
Q

What is a species’ genome ?

A

The complete set of all its chromosomes

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6
Q

What are “house-keeping genes” ?

A

Genes that encode proteins needed in all cells (such as actin and tubulin)

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7
Q

What are histones ?

A

Sphere-like, positively charged proteins found in the nucleus

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8
Q

What is the role of histones ?

A

To help sort out DNA

To maintain an organised structure

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9
Q

Where are proteins produced ?

A

In the cytosol

On the rougth ER

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10
Q

What concepts form the Central Dogma of Molecular BIology ?

A

Transcription
Translation
Replication

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11
Q

What is transcription ?

A

The production of mRNA by using a DNA template

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12
Q

What is mRNA ?

A

An intermidiate copy of a gene that can be taken out of the nucleus

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13
Q

What is RNA polymerase ?

A

An enzyme that catalyses the formation of phosphodiester bonds between nucleotides

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14
Q

In what direction are phosphodiester bonds formed ?

A

Only in a 5’-to-3’ direction

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15
Q

In what direction does RNA plolymerase move along the template strand ?

A

In a 3’-to-5’ direction

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16
Q

What is the template strand ?

A

The DNA strand on which the RNA polymerase attaches

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17
Q

What is the terminator region ?

A

The transcription end site, where RNA polymerase will stop transcription

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18
Q

What is the promoter region ?

A

A part of a DNA molecule that allows RNA polymerase to arrive and begin transcription more quickly

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19
Q

What is the enhancer and repressor regions ?

A

Regions in the DNA that help or deter the recruitment of RNA polymerase

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20
Q

What changes does the mRNA must undergo before being allowed to leave the nucleus ?

A

The addition of a 5’ cap and a 3’ polyA tail

Splicing

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21
Q

What is splicing ?

A

The removal of introns

22
Q

What are introns ?

A

Unnecessary regions of the mRNA (consistuted of non-coding nucleotides)

23
Q

What is alternative splicing ?

A

When an intron is left behind

When some of the coding part of the mRNA is removed

24
Q

What is the consequence of alternative splicing ?

A

Different mRNA are produced from the same gene, which leads to different proteins being made

25
Q

What is a mature mRNA ?

A

A mRNA that is ready to leave the nucleus

26
Q

What is translation ?

A

The process of changing from nucleotide “langage” to amino acid “langage”

27
Q

What is a codon ?

A

A set of three nucleotides that is translated into a single amino aicd

28
Q

What is one of the challenges of translation ?

A

There are only four nucleotides, but 20 amino acids

29
Q

What is the redundancy or degeneracy of the genetic code ?

A

The fact that different codons can code for the same amino acid

30
Q

What does the tRNA (transfer RNA) ?

A

It is responsible for linking a specific codon to the corresponding amino acid

31
Q

What is a charged tRNA ?

A

A tRNA attached to the right amino acid

32
Q

What does aminoacyl tRNA synthesase ?

A

It attaches the amino acid to the tRNA

33
Q

What does the ribosome during translation ?

A

It catalyses the formation of peptide bonds
It regulates when translation of a specific mRNA is needed
It determines where on the RNA translation must take place

34
Q

Of what is made the ribosome ?

A 
Proteins 
Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
35
Q

What are the three steps of translation ?

A

Initiation
Elongation
Termination

36
Q

What is initiation?

A

THe step at which translation is the mos carefully reviewed and regulated (Happens BEFORE translation starts)

37
Q

What is elongation ?

A

The systematic occurance of translation (the actual process)

38
Q

What sites does the ribosome have ?

A

The A-site (amino acid site)
THe P-site (polypeptide site)
THe E-site (exit)

39
Q

WHat is the A-site ?

A

The site where the charged tRNA arrives

40
Q

What is the P-site ?

A

The site where a tRNA with a full chain of the polypeptide “rests”

41
Q

What is the E-site ?

A

The site where the empty tRNA is ejected

42
Q

What is termination ?

A

The recruitment a of release factor to end translation

43
Q

WHat is a release factor ?

A

A protein that is similar to tRNA that is recruited when a codon for “stop” is read.

44
Q

What are the differences between prokaryotes and Eukarytoes for those two processes ?

A

In prokaryotes:
Transcription and translation take place in the cytosol
No changes made to the mRNA after transcription
Polycistronic

45
Q

What does polycistronic mean ?

A

A mRNA that has more than one gene on it. (by comparison, eukaryotes are monocistronic)

46
Q

What is replication ?

A

The process during which DNA produces a complete copy of itself

47
Q

What is DNA polymerase ?

A

The enzyme that catalyses the formation of a new copy of DNA

48
Q

In what direction does DNA polymerase move ?

A

In a 3’-to- 5’ direction

49
Q

Why is replication called a “semi-conservative model” ?

A

Because after the passage of DNA polymerase, the two DNA strands won’t reattach. They both will be paired up with a new strand (daugther strand)

50
Q

What is the replication fork ?

A

The point at which the two DNA stands separate

51
Q

What is the leading strand ?

A

The continuous “round “ of replication

52
Q

What is the lagging strand ?

A

The discontinuous “round “ of replication

Biology (8 decks)

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