DNA Flashcards
Describe DNA
Polymer made of molecules called nucleotides
In a double helix
Describe structure of nucleotides
Phosphate group
= attached to sugar molecule
= sugar attached to a base
What does it mean if DNA strands are complementary
Same bases always pair with opposite strands
Define a gene
Small section on DNA on a chromosome
Define genome
Entire genetic material of an organism
Advantages of learning the human genome
- diagnosis of inherited disorders
- understand and treat inherited disorders
- to trace human migration patterns from the past
Types of bases
A G C T
What are the 2 complementary pairs
AT or TA
CG or GC
Define mutation
Change in the DNA base sequence
What increases risk of mutations
Carcinogens
Certain radiation
Structure of a nucleotide
phosphate attached to a sugar
which has 1 of 4 bases attached to sugar
bases are A, C, G and T
What codes for amino acid
Each group of 3 bases
How are amino acids formed
Coded by each group of three bases
Join together to make a protein
How do mutations work
- a base is inserted into the code
= as read in threes it changes the way it’s read
= may change all the amino acids codes after this insertion - a base is deleted from the code
= change the ways it’s read
= may change amino acids coded - base is substituted
= only change one amino acid in the sequence
Effects of change of sequence of amino acids
Will affect the way it folds and therefore the structure
= substrate won’t fit into active site
= can’t act as protein
