Chapter 8 Flashcards
What is the definition of a gene?
Is a section of DNA that contains the coded info for making polypeptides + functional RNA
What form is coded information in?
In the form of a specific sequence of bases along the DNA molecule
What do genes determine?
Determine proteins of an organism
+
Nature and development of all organisms
Where is the gene located?
Located at a particular position called locus
The gene is a base sequence that codes for……
Amino acid sequence of a polypeptide
or functional RNA (ribosomal RNA + tRNA)
Why must there be a minimum of 3 bases that code for each amino acid?
- Only 20 different AA regularly occur in proteins
- Each AA must have its own code of bases on DNA
- Only 4 bases(A,T,G,C)
- 3 bases produce 64 (4^3) different codes, more than enough to satisfy requirements of 20 amino acids
What is a code that has 3 bases for each AA called?
A TRIPLET
What are some feautures of a genetic code
- Few AA coded by only a single triplet (remaining coded between 2+6 triplets)
- Triplets always read in 1 particular direction along DNA strand
- Start of DNA sequence codes for a polypeptide always same triplet
- Code is universal
Why is the genetic code also known as the ‘degenerate code’
Because most amino acids are coded for more than 1 triplet
What does it mean if the code is non-overlapping?
Each base in sequence is read-only once (e.g 123456 would be read as 123 , 456)
What are introns?
…
What are extrons?
…
Why is much of DNA in eukaryotes does not code for polypeptides?
between genes, there are non-coding sequences made up of multiple repeats of base sequences
Describe the RNA structure?
- Pentose sugar
- Organic bases (A,T,G,U)
- Phosphate group
What two types of RNA are important for protein synthesis?
mRNA
tRNA
What is the structure of the mRNA?
-Long strand arranged in a single helix (Consisting of thousand of mononucleotides)