DNA And Genes Flashcards
What is the DNA like in a eukaryotic cell?
They have most of their DNA in the nucleus. This DNA is linear, as chromosomes
Structure of chromosomes
Each chromosome is a length of double stranded DNA wrapped around his tone proteins
What is the complex of DNA and protein called
Chromatin
Where is most of our DNA found
It’s not found in genes but makes up promoter regions and multiple repeat regions between genes
What are introns
Non-coding and found within genes
What are exons
Coding
What happens to introns during protein-synthesis?
They are spliced out
What is the DNA like in prokaryotic cells?
It’s circular,not associated with histones and dos not contain introns
The structure of DNA in mitochondria and chloroplast?
It’s prokaryotic in nature (circular, no histone proteins, no introns)
What does each gene code for?
Either polypeptide of a functional RNA molecule (e.g. tRNA or rRNA)
How can genes be switched on and off?
Using the promotor regions and methylation/acetylation
Definition of a genome
All of the DNA present in a cell or organism
What’s different about stop(TAA,TAG,TGA)
ends every genetic code
Definition of a proteome
All of the proteins that a cell is able to synthesise
Features of the genetic code
- universal, it’s the same in all living organisms
- non overlapping , each nucleotide is only read once
- degenerate, more than 1 code (codon) for many amino acids
What’s different about methyanine (ATG)
starts the universal code for every gene
What are the two stages of protein synthesis
- transcription
- translation
What happens at the start of transcription?
Breaking of hydrogen bonds between the strands of the gene at the locus (position of interest). This exposes the base on the template strand. Free nucleotides bind to their complementary DNA base
What does RNA polymerase form in transcription?
Phosphodiester bonds between adjacent RNA nucleotides. This forms premrna . This goes to a spliceosome where the introns are spliced out and the produces mRNA. This travels out the nucleus via a nuclear pore and is taken to a ribosome
What happens during translation
- In the ribosomes each codon (sequence of amino acids) is “read” and a complementary tRNA molecule is attached
- The ribosome catalyses the formation of peptide bonds between adjacent amino acids using energy from ATP
- Once the amino acid joins the polypeptide the tRNA molecule leaves the ribosomes to gain another specific amino acid
4.when a stop codon is reached the process of translation stops - Polypeptide folds into the tertiary structure
what are the two keys types of mutationin a DNA sequence:
- substitution
- deletion
what is a substitution mutation?
when one nucleotide in the DNA sequence is replaced by another. Substitution may not be harmful as the substituted nucleotide may code for the same amino acid.
what is a deletion mutation?
when a nucleotide in the DNA sequence is lost. This results in different amino acids being coded.
what Mutations can occur in chromosomes:
- polyploidy
- non-disjunction