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Biology > DNA > Flashcards

DNA Flashcards

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AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

What does DNA stand for?

A

DeoxyriboNucleic Acid

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2
Q

What is it?

A

DNA is the chemical that all genetic material in a cell is made up from, it contains codes that are instructions for protein synthesis and bodily functions. It determines your inherited characteristics.

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3
Q

Where is it found?

A

In long structures that usually come in pairs called chromosomes, they are found in the nucleus of cells.

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4
Q

What shape and type of molecule is DNA?

A

A polymer in a double helix shape

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5
Q

What are genes?

A

A gene is a small section of DNA

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6
Q

What do they do?

A

They code for a particular sequence of amino acids which are put together to make a specific protein by telling what order to put the amino acids together

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7
Q

How many amino acids are there?

A

20 but they make up thousands of proteins

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8
Q

How does DNA determine cell type?

A

It determines what proteins the cell produces, such as keratin in hair or nail cells

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9
Q

What is the genome?

A

The genome is the entire set of genetic material in an organism, scientists have worked out the complete genome.

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10
Q

Why is it important to understand?

A

It allows scientists to identify genes in the genome that are linked to diseases, knowing which genes are linked to inherited disease helps us to understand them and develop better treatments for them. Scientists can also look at genomes to trace the migration of certain populations of people worldwide

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11
Q

What are nucleotides?

A

Nucleotides are parts of a DNA strand consisting of a sugar, a phosphate (these two make the backbone) and a base

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12
Q

What are the four base letters?

A

A-T G-C

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13
Q

What is this pairing called?

A

Complimentary base pairing

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14
Q

What do the order of bases determine?

A

The order of amino acids in a protein, coded for in triplets

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15
Q

What do parts of DNA do if they don’t code for proteins?

A

They control whether or not a gene is expressed (used to make a protein).

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16
Q

Where are ribosomes located?

A

In the cytoplasm

17
Q

Why can’t DNA move out of the cell, what is used instead?

A

DNA is too large to move out of the cell so a molecule called mRNA is used instead. It is made by copying the code from DNA and moving through the cell to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm.

18
Q

What is a carrier molecule?

A

Molecules that bring the correct amino acid to the ribosome

19
Q

Three examples of different proteins

A

Enzymes, hormones and structural proteins

20
Q

Enzymes

A

Act as biological catalysts to speed up chemical reactions in the body

21
Q

Hormones

A

Used to carry messages around the body, such as insulin which is a hormone in the blood released by the pancreas to regulate blood sugar levels

22
Q

Structural Proteins

A

Physically strong such as collagen which strengthens connective tissues like ligaments

23
Q

What are mutations?

A

Mutations are random changes in an organism’s DNA and they can sometimes be inherited.

24
Q

When do they occur?

A

Mutations occur continuously, they can occur spontaneously such as when a chromosome isn’t replicated properly but the chance of mutation is increased by exposure to specific substances or radiation types

25
Q

What do they do?

A

Mutations change the sequence of DNA bases in a gene which produces a genetic variant, because this sequence codes for amino acids that make up a protein- mutations sometimes change the protein the DNA codes for

26
Q

What effects does a mutation have?

A

It depends on the type of mutation, some can be harmless and have little to no effect on the protein whereas others can be severe and affect its shape so the protein cannot perform its function

27
Q

What is an example of a protein that cannot function without the correct shape?

A

Enzymes cannot function without the correct shape as their active sit is changed so a substrate won’t bind to it

28
Q

Name the three different mutation types

A

Insertion, deletion, substitution

29
Q

What are insertions?

A

Insertions are where a new base is added, they can have a knock on effect in the base code further down the sequence so they can have severe effects

30
Q

What are deletions?

A

Deletions are where a base is removed from the base code so they can also severely affect the protein produced because they can have a knock on effect

31
Q

What are substitutions?

A

Substitutions are where a base is swapped to a different base, they do not have a knock on effect so they are often less severe.

Biology (12 decks)

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