Chapter 10: Biochemistry of the Genome

Question 1

Heredity

Answer 1

The passage of traits from one generation to the next.

Question 2

Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance

Answer 2

Identified chromosomes as the genetic material responsible for Mendelian inheritance.

Question 3

Jumping Genes/Transposons

Answer 3

Mobile segments of DNA that can move within the genome of an organism; they can regulate gene expression, protein expression, and virulence (ability to cause disease).

Question 4

One Gene-One Enzyme Hypothesis

Answer 4

Suggested that each gene encodes one enzyme.

Question 5

Bacterial Transformation

Answer 5

A process in which external DNA is taken up by a cell, thereby changing its characteristics.

Question 6

Nucleic Acids

Answer 6

Composed of monomers, called nucleotides, which are polymerized to form large strands.

Question 7

Base Sequence

Answer 7

Responsible for carrying and retaining the hereditary information in a cell.

Question 8

Deoxyribonucleotides

Answer 8

Nucleotides that compose DNA.

Question 9

Deoxyribose

Answer 9

A five-carbon sugar.

Question 10

Nitrogenous Base

Answer 10

A nitrogen-containing ring structure that is responsible for complementary base paring between nucleic acid strands.

Question 11

Nucleoside

Answer 11

Comprises the five-carbon sugar and nitrogenous base.

Question 12

Purines

Answer 12

Adenine and guanine; have a double-ring structure with a six-carbon ring fused to a five-carbon ring.

Question 13

Pyrimidines

Answer 13

Cytosine, and thymine; are smaller nitrogenous bases that have only a six-carbon ring structure.

Question 14

Phosphodiester Bonds

Answer 14

Linkages whereby the phosphate group attached to the 5’ carbon of the sugar of one nucleotide bonds to the hydroxyl group of the 3’ carbon of the sugar of the next nucleotide.

Question 15

Sugar-Phosphate Backbone

Answer 15

The alternating sugar-phosphate structure composing the framework of a nucleic acid strand made of phosphodiester bonds.

Question 16

DNA Denaturation

Answer 16

Exposing two DNA strands of the double helix to high temperatures or to certain chemicals can break the hydrogen bonds between complementary bases, thus separating the strands into two separate single strands of DNA.

Question 17

DNA Denaturation

Answer 17

Exposing two DNA strands of the double helix to high temperatures or to certain chemicals can break the hydrogen bonds between complementary bases, thus separating the strands into two separate single strands of DNA.

Question 18

DNA Denaturation

Answer 18

Exposing two DNA strands of the double helix to high temperatures or to certain chemicals can break the hydrogen bonds between complementary bases, thus separating the strands into two separate single strands of DNA.

Question 19

Vertical Gene Transfer

Answer 19

The transmission of genetic information from mother to daughter cells and occurs through the process of DNA replication.

Question 20

Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)

Answer 20

Shorter and typically single stranded; perform a variety of roles in the cell but mainly involved in the process of protein synthesis (translation) and its regulation.

Question 21

Riboucleotides

Answer 21

Make up RNA; contain ribose (pentose sugar), one of the four nitrogenous bases (A, U, G, and C), and a phosphate group.

Question 22

Uracil

Answer 22

RNA-specific pyrimidine; forms a complementary base pair with adenine and is used instead of the thymine used in DNA.

Question 23

Genes

Answer 23

Segments of DNA molecules; contain the instructional code necessary for synthesizing various proteins, enzymes, or stable RNA molecules.

Question 24

Genotype

Answer 24

The full collection of genes that a cell contains within its genome.

Question 25

Constitutive Genes/ Housekeeping Genes

Answer 25

Genes that are always expressed.

Question 26

Phenotype

Answer 26

The set of genes being expressed at any given point in time determines the cell’s activities and its observable characteristics.

Question 27

DNA Supercoiling

Answer 27

Refers to the process by which DNA is twisted to fit inside the cell.

Question 28

Topoisomerase

Answer 28

Enzymes that help maintain the structure of supercoiled chromosomes, preventing overwinding of DNA during certain cellular processes like DNA replication.

Question 29

DNA Packaging

Answer 29

DNA-binding proteins called histones perform various levels of DNA wrapping and attachment to scaffolding protiens.

Question 30

Chromatin

Answer 30

Combination of DNA and histones.

Question 31

Epigenetics

Answer 31

The influence of environmental factors on DNA packaging.

Question 32

DNA Gyrase

Answer 32

A type of topoisomerase, found in bacteria and some archaea, that helps prevent the overwinding of DNA.

Question 33

Noncoding DNA

Answer 33

Regions of DNA that do not encode proteins or stable RNA products.

Question 34

Intergenic Regions

Answer 34

DNA sequences located between genes.

Question 35

Extrachromosomal DNA

Answer 35

Additional molecules of DNA outside the chromosomes that are also part of its genomes.

Question 36

Plasmids

Answer 36

Prokaryotes have smaller loops of DNA that may contain on or a few genes not essential for normal growth.

Question 37

Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT)

Answer 37

When bacteria exchange plasmids with other bacteria.