DNA and protein synthesis Flashcards
What is a gene?
A section of DNA located at a particular position, called a locus.
What does a gene do?
Codes for the amino acid sequence of polypeptides or functional RNA, including rRNA and tRNA.
Scientists’ reasoning for minimum 3 bases that coded for each amino acid.
20 amino acids regularly occur in proteins, each amino acid has its own base code, only 4 bases, 4^3 = 64 which is greater than 20.
DNA is known as _____ code and what does this mean?
Degenerate code which means that most amino acids are coded for by more than one triplet.
Why is the code for DNA a degenerate code?
Because it means that any mutations have a higher chance of not affecting which amino acid is translated.
What does each DNA sequence have at start and end?
At the start there is always the same triplet that codes for methionine. If the first methionine is not part of the final polypeptide, it is later removed. At the end, there is a stop code.
What are the features of DNA code?
It is universal (indirect evidence for evolution).
It is non-overlapping.
What is an intron?
Non-coding sequences that separate exons within genes.
What is an exon?
A coding sequence in a gene.
DNA structure in prokaryote
DNA molecules are short, circular and not associated with proteins. No chromosomes.
DNA structure in eukaryote
DNA molecules are longer, linear and occur in association with histones to form chromosomes.
DNA in mitochondria and chloroplasts are similar to that of prokaryotes.
What is a triplet?
A sequence of 3 bases that codes for an amino acid.
What is a homologous pair?
A pair of chromosomes where one comes from mother and one comes from the father. They contain the same genes but not necessarily the same alleles.
What is an allele?
One of a number of alternative forms of a gene. One inherited from each parent.
What is a genome?
The complete set of genes in a cell, including those in the mitochondria and chloroplasts.