Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

12 ATAR Biology > Chapter 8: Gene Expression > Flashcards

Chapter 8: Gene Expression Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

What is a genome?

A

All genetic material contained in an organism or a cell, including DNA existing as chromosomes within the nucleus, and DNA in mitochondria and chloroplasts (if present)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is a gene?

A

Particular sections or organisms that carry instructions in the form of a code

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is polypeptide?

A

A polymer of many amino acids linked by peptide bonds; forms a protein or part of a protein (refer to figure 8.2.6 pg 156 for the process of polypeptide formation)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is a codon?

A

A series of three adjacent nucleotide bases in DNA and mRNA; each codon specifies a particular amino acid to be added when a polypeptide is assembled; start and stop codons also occur

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is a ribosome?

A

Organelle where polypeptide synthesis occurs in all cells; locks onto mRNA molecule and moves along it to translate its code and link amino acids; formed in the nucleolus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is messenger RNA (mRNA)?

A

A ribonucleic acid molecule formed in the nucleus during gene transcription; has a nitrogen base sequence complementary to DNA template segment; travels to the cytoplasm where ribosomes attach

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is a template strand?

A

The DNA strand that serves as a pattern for making complementary polynucleotide

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is transcription?

A

The formation of an mRNA molecule against the template strand of DNA molecule in the nucleus by complementary nucleotide base pairing (figure 8.2.2 pg 153 for more detail)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is a non-template strand?

A

The DNA strand complementary to the template strand; does not form the pattern for the synthesis of a complementary polynucleotide

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is pre-mRNA?

A

An unmodified ‘immature’ mRNA molecule that contains introns

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are introns?

A

A section of DNA or pre-mRNA that does not code for a polypeptide; is removes (spliced) from pre-mRNA to form a mature mRNA molecule

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is an exon?

A

A section of DNA, pre-mRNA, or mRNA that codes for a polypeptide

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is mature mRNA?

A

A modified pre-mRNA molecule with introns removed; ready to move out of the nucleus to the cytoplasm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is a start codon?

A

The first codon of an mRNA transcript translated by a ribosome; signals the ribosome to start translating mRNA

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is translation?

A

The joining of amino acids in a specific order, according to information in mRNA ‘read’ by the ribosome, to form polypeptide

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is transfer RNA (tRNA)?

A

An RNA molecule that picks up a particular amino acid from the cytoplasm and then pairs with a specific mRNA codon to deliver the amino acid to the growing polypeptide chain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the anticodon?

A

A sequence of three nucleotide bases on a tRNA molecule that pairs with complementary bases on an mRNA strand during translation at a ribosome

18
Q

What is the amino acid binding site?

A

The site of attachment of an amino acid to a tRNA molecule

19
Q

What is a peptide bond?

A

The bond that forms between adjacent amino acid monomers

20
Q

What is a stop codon?

A

The codon that discontinues the synthesis of the polypeptide chain

21
Q

What is coding DNA?

A

The small part of DNA used as a template for mRNA synthesis and thus for polypeptide synthesis; also known as a gene

22
Q

What is non-coding DNA?

A

All DNA sequences within the genome that are not found within mRNA-coding exons i.e. do not code for polypeptides. Many functions of non-coding DNA are yet to be determined

23
Q

What is ribosomal RNA (rRNA)?

A

A folded molecule of RNA that combines with proteins to form ribosomes; formed in the nucleolus of eukaryotic cells

24
Q

What is a telomere?

A

Hundreds of thousands of repeated short DNA sequences at the ends of chromosomes to help maintain them; short lengths lost within each replication of DNA

25
Q

What is gene expression?

A

The process in which information encoded in gene directs the production of RNA molecules (mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA) for polypeptide and thus protein synthesis

26
Q

What is gene regulation?

A

Various processes that enable a gene to be expressed (or not) in specific times and allow the proteins to be produced at required rates

27
Q

What are housekeeping genes?

A

A gene that encodes a polypeptide as part of a protein (often an enzyme) required to maintain basic cellular processes

28
Q

What are the two categories of gene regulations?

A

Short-term and long-term regulations

29
Q

What is short-term gene regulation?

A

Ensures that all of the different varieties of specialized cells can carry out their regular everyday functions

30
Q

What is long-term gene regulation?

A

determines the development of the organism through all the different life stages, including the differentiation of specialized cells

31
Q

What is a nucleosome?

A

The basic structural unit of chromatin comprising a DNA strand wrapped around a group of 8 histone molecules

32
Q

How are genes switched on and off?

A

Refer to figure 8.5.1 pg 162 for info

33
Q

What are regulatory proteins?

A

A protein that binds to DNA to switch a gene on or off

34
Q

What are transcription factors?

A

A regulatory protein whose function of to activate or inhibit transcription of coding DNA by binding to specific non-coding segments near the gene to be expressed or repressed

35
Q

What are some examples of environmental influences on gene expression?

A
  • Twins that have the same genes but have different characteristics
  • The Himalayan rabbit, the fur changes depending on the weather (darker for cooler days, white for hot days)
36
Q

What are some examples of influences on phenotypic expression that can be passed to offspring?

A
  • Arsenic
  • Heavy metals
  • Some organic pollutants
  • Lifestyle
  • Stress levels
  • Food consumed
    Can all affect how genes are expressed, which ten can be passed on to offspring
37
Q

What does epigenetics mean?

A

The study of chemical modifications to gene function that are not due to a change in the DNA sequences

38
Q

How does translation affect gene expression?

A

The mRNA is prevented from being translated into a polypeptide, so expression is switched off in that way

39
Q

What are microRNA (miRNA)

A

A small non-coding segment of RNA that plays a role in regulating gene expression at the post-transcription level

40
Q

What is morphology?

A

The shape and form of an organism or its part

41
Q

What are homeobox genes?

A

A gene of a group that cod for proteins that regulate body formation and patterning in the developing embryo (refer to figure 8.6.3 pg 167 for more detail)

42
Q

What is the most influential gene in the process of sex determination?

A

The SRY gene (sex-determining region of the Y chromosome), located on the right branch of the Y chromosomes, launches the genetic program for testes development

12 ATAR Biology (14 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions