Control of gene expression Flashcards
Where does transcription happen?
In the nucleus
What is transcription?
The process by which mRNA copies a strand of DNA
What is the role of RNA polymerase during transcription?
To join nucleotides together to for mRNA/premRNA
What is an inversion mutation?
A group of bases separate from the sequence and rejoin in the same position but in the reverse order
What is a translocation mutation?
A group of bases separate from the sequence and are inserted into the wrong chromosome
What is an addition mutation?
An extra bases is added to the wrong chromosome
UV light is an example of a mutagenic agent. Give another.
Mustard gas, ionising radiation
What is the definition of a totipotent cell?
A cell that is able to give rise to any type of cell
What is a pluripotent cell?
A cell that is able to give rise to most types of cell
What is a multipotent cell?
A cell that is able to give rise to a limited range of cell types
What is a unipotent cell?
A cell that can only give rise to one type of cell
Muscle stem cells are unipotent. Give another example
Cardiomyocyctes
What is the definition of an induced pluripotent cell?
A unipotent cell that has been genetically altered so that they are pluripotent
(Acquire characteristics of an embryonic stem cell)
Where do multipotent cells originate from?
Body tissue
What is an example of a multipotent cell?
Adult stem cells in the bone marrow
Where are pluripotent cells found?
In the embryo
Give an example of a pluripotent cell.
Embryonic stem cell
Give an example of a totipotent cell
Zygote
Where do totipotent cells originate from?
Zygote
What is a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)?
Single base variations in the genome that are associated with disease and other disorders
Give the definition of the genome
All the genetic material in an organism
Give the definition of the proteome
All the proteins produced in a given type of cell (cellular proteome) or organism (complete proteome) at a given time under specified conditions
Why is is relatively easy to determine the proteome of prokaryotes? Give two reasons
Vast majority of prokaryotes have just one, circular piece of DNA that is not associated with histones
No non-coding portions DNA
What are the five general stages of making a protein using DNA technology?
Isolation
Insertion
Transformation (transfer into suitable hosts)
Identification (hosts have taken up gene)
Growth/cloning
Give three methods of producing DNA fragments
mRNA to cDNA using reverse transcriptase
Restriction endonuclease to cut fragments from DNA
Gene machine to create desired structure
Where would be a good place to find a gene to code for insulin?
Beta cells from islets of Langerhans
Describe how a DNA fragment could be produced using reverse transcriptase
Find mRNA which codes for the desired gene (e.g. mRNA from B cells from the islets of Langerhans)
Reverse transcriptase uses mRNA as a template to form cDNA
cDNA is isolated by hydrolysis of the mRNA w/ an enzyme
DNA polymerase uses the cDNA template to form double stranded DNA
