Chapter 9: Molecular Biology Flashcards
Transformation
The ability of bacteria to absorb and express genetic information obtained from their surroundings.
Griffith’s DNA Discoveries
Genetic information can be transferred from dead bacteria to living bacteria.
Avery, Macleod, McCarth
Identify DNA as the heredity information of a cell.
Hershey and Chase
Establish that DNA was the genetic material of phages.
Watson, Crick, Wilkins and Franklin
Determine the structure of DNA
Phages
Viruses that infect bacteria
One-gene-one-enzyme
The theory that the gene was defined as the segment of DNA that codes for a particular enzyme.
one-gene-one-polypeptide hypothesis
Each DNA segment codes for a particular polypeptide.
DNA replication
Involves separating (unzipping) the double-stranded DNA molecule into two strands, each of which serves as a template to assemble a new, complementary strand.
Semiconservative Replication
Each DNA contains one old strand, and one new strand.
Helicase
The enzyme that unwinds the DNA helix
Single-strand binding proteins
Proteins that attach to each strand of the uncoiled DNA to keep them separate.
DNA Polymerase
The enzyme that assembles the new DNA strand
Okazaki Fragments
DNA fragments in the 5’—>3’ template strand that are in segments because they can’t be connected as created when the DNA polymerase is working in the 5’–3’ direction.
DNA ligase
The thing that that connects the Okazaki fragments
Lagging Strand
The strand that takes more time to assemble than the complementary strand.
Chromosome Structure of Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes
Prokaryotes- Circular
Eukaryotes- Linear with ends called telomeres
Proofreading
DNA Polymerase checks to make sure that each newly added nucleotide correctly base-pairs with the template strand.
Mismatch repair problems
Repair errors that escape the proofreading ability of DNA polymerase.
Excision Repair Proteins
Identify and remove damaged nucleotides caused by environmental factors, such as toxins or radiation.
Protein Synthesis
The process that describes how enzymes and other proteins are made from DNA.
Polypeptides
DNA holds the codes for polypeptides.
Polypeptides are enzymes that regulate chemical reactions.
3 Steps in Proteins Synthesis
- Transcription
- RNA processing
- Translation
mRNA
Messenger RNA
A single strand of RNA that provides the template used for sequencing amino acids into a polypeptide.
Codon
A triplet group of three adjacent nucleotides on the mRNA
tRNA
A short RNA molecule (80 nucleotides) that is used for transporting amino acids to their proper place on the mRNA.
rRNA
Molecules that combine with various proteins to form ribosomes.
3 stages of Transcription
- Initiation
- Elongation
- Termination
- Initiation
Stage 1 of Transcription
The RNA polymerase attaches to a promoter region on the DNA and begins to unzip the DNA into two strands.
- Elongation
Second stage of transcription
Occurs as the RNA polymerase unzips the DNA and assembles RNA nucleotides using one strand of the DNA as a template.
- Termination
Occurs when the RNA polymerase reaches a special sequence of nucleotides that serve as a termination point.
5’ Cap
A guanine nucleotide with two additional phosphate groups that is added to the 5’ end of mRNA.
Provides stability to the mRNA and a point of attachment for the small subunit of the ribosome
Poly- A tail
Attached to the 3’ end of the mRNA
Provides stability to the mRNA, and also controls the movement of mRNA across the nuclear envelope
RNA splicing
Removes nucleotide segments from mRNA.