Chapter 17

Question 1

Transcription

Answer 1

The synthesis of RNA under the direction of DNA

Question 2

mRNA

Answer 2

Carries a genetic message from the DNA to the protein synthesizing machinery of the cell

Question 3

Translation

Answer 3

The synthesis of a polypeptide, occurs under the direction of mRNA

Question 4

Ribosomes

Answer 4

Site of translation, complex particles that facilitate the orderly linking of amino acids into polypeptide chains

Question 5

Primary transcript

Answer 5

The initial RNA transcript from any gene, including those coding for RNA that is mot translated into a protein

Question 6

Triplet code

Answer 6

Flow of info from gene to protein

Question 7

Template strand

Answer 7

Provides a pattern/template for the sequence of nucleotides in an RNA transcript

Question 8

Codons

Answer 8

mRNA base triplets

Question 9

Reading frame

Answer 9

Reading the symbols in the correct groupings

Question 10

RNA polymerase

Answer 10

Pries the two strands of DNA apart and joins RNA nucleotides as they base pair along the DNA template

Question 11

Promoter

Answer 11

Where RNA polymerase attaches and initiates transcription

Question 12

Terminator

Answer 12

The sequence that signals the end of transcription in bacteria

Question 13

Transcription unit

Answer 13

The stretch of DNA that is transcribed into an RNA molecule

Question 14

Transcription factors

Answer 14

A collection of proteins in eukaryotes that mediate the binding of RNA polymerase and the initiation of transcription

Question 15

Transcription initiation complex

Answer 15

The whole complex of transcription factors and RNA polymerase II bound to the promoter

Question 16

TATA box

Answer 16

Promoter DNA sequence that forms the initiation complex at a eukaryotic promoter

Question 17

Gene expression

Answer 17

The process by which DNA directs the synthesis of proteins (or in some cases RNA)

Question 18

RNA processing

Answer 18

Enzymes in eukaryotic nucleus modify pre-mRNA in specific ways before the genetic messages are dispatched to the cytoplasm

Question 19

Poly-A tail

Answer 19

At the 3’ end of mRNA, an enzyme adds 50 to 250 more adenine nucleotides

Question 20

RNA splicing

Answer 20

In the eukaryotic nucleus is the removal or large portions of the RNA molecule that is initially synthesized (cut and paste job)

Question 21

Introns

Answer 21

Noncoding segments of nucleic acid that lie between coding regions

Question 22

Exons

Answer 22

Coding regions that are expressed, usually by being translated into amino acid sequences

Question 23

Spliceosome

Answer 23

Several different snRNPs joining together with additional proteins to form an even larger assembly

Question 24

Ribozymes

Answer 24

RNA molecules that function as enzymes

Question 25

Alternative RNA splicing

Answer 25

Genes that are know to give rise to two or more different polypeptides, depending on which segments are treated as exons during RNA processing