DNA, Genes & Protein Synthesis (Chapter 8) Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the structure of DNA?

A

DNA is a double helix composed of two strands of nucleotides.

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2
Q

What are the four nitrogenous bases in DNA?

A

Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Cytosine (C), and Guanine (G).

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3
Q

Which nitrogenous bases pair together in DNA?

A

Adenine pairs with Thymine, and Cytosine pairs with Guanine.

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4
Q

True or False: DNA is made up of amino acids.

A

False.

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5
Q

What is a gene?

A

A gene is a sequence of DNA that codes for a specific protein.

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6
Q

What is the function of mRNA?

A

mRNA (messenger RNA) carries the genetic information from DNA to the ribosomes for protein synthesis.

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7
Q

Fill in the blank: The process of copying DNA into RNA is called __________.

A

transcription.

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8
Q

What is the role of tRNA in protein synthesis?

A

tRNA (transfer RNA) brings amino acids to the ribosome during translation.

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9
Q

What is the central dogma of molecular biology?

A

DNA -> RNA -> Protein.

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10
Q

What are introns and exons?

A

Introns are non-coding regions of a gene, while exons are coding regions that are translated into protein.

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11
Q

True or False: All mutations are harmful.

A

False.

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12
Q

What is a point mutation?

A

A point mutation is a change in a single nucleotide in the DNA sequence.

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13
Q

What is the role of RNA polymerase?

A

RNA polymerase synthesizes RNA from a DNA template during transcription.

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14
Q

Define ‘codon’.

A

A codon is a sequence of three nucleotides that corresponds to a specific amino acid.

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15
Q

What are the three stages of translation?

A

Initiation, elongation, and termination.

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16
Q

Fill in the blank: The genetic code is __________.

A

degenerate.

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17
Q

What is the difference between DNA and RNA?

A

DNA is double-stranded and contains deoxyribose, while RNA is single-stranded and contains ribose.

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18
Q

What is a silent mutation?

A

A silent mutation is a change in the nucleotide sequence that does not alter the amino acid sequence of a protein.

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19
Q

What is a frameshift mutation?

A

A frameshift mutation is caused by insertions or deletions of nucleotides that change the reading frame of the gene.

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20
Q

What is the role of ribosomes in protein synthesis?

A

Ribosomes are the sites where translation occurs, synthesizing proteins from amino acids.

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21
Q

True or False: All genes are expressed all the time.

A

False.

22
Q

What is the purpose of the promoter region in a gene?

A

The promoter region is a sequence that initiates transcription of a gene.

23
Q

What is a poly-A tail?

A

A poly-A tail is a stretch of adenine nucleotides added to the 3’ end of mRNA for stability and transport.

24
Q

What is the significance of the start codon?

A

The start codon (AUG) signals the beginning of translation and codes for methionine.

25
Q

What is a stop codon?

A

A stop codon is a codon that signals the termination of protein synthesis.

26
Q

What is the process of DNA replication?

A

DNA replication is the process by which a DNA molecule is copied to produce two identical molecules.

27
Q

What enzyme is responsible for DNA replication?

A

DNA polymerase.

28
Q

What is the role of ligase in DNA replication?

A

Ligase joins Okazaki fragments on the lagging strand during DNA replication.

29
Q

What is the difference between leading and lagging strands during DNA replication?

A

The leading strand is synthesized continuously, while the lagging strand is synthesized in short segments.

30
Q

What is a mutation?

A

A mutation is a change in the DNA sequence that can lead to changes in protein function.

31
Q

What is gene expression?

A

Gene expression is the process by which information from a gene is used to synthesize a functional gene product, usually a protein.

32
Q

What is epigenetics?

A

Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve changes to the DNA sequence.

33
Q

True or False: All proteins are enzymes.

A

False.

34
Q

What is the role of chaperone proteins?

A

Chaperone proteins assist in the proper folding of other proteins.

35
Q

What is the significance of alternative splicing?

A

Alternative splicing allows a single gene to produce multiple protein isoforms.

36
Q

What is a transcription factor?

A

A transcription factor is a protein that binds to specific DNA sequences to regulate gene expression.

37
Q

What is a plasmid?

A

A plasmid is a small, circular piece of DNA found in bacteria that can replicate independently of chromosomal DNA.

38
Q

What is the role of the operator in an operon?

A

The operator is a segment of DNA that a repressor protein binds to, blocking transcription.

39
Q

What is the significance of the 5’ cap on mRNA?

A

The 5’ cap protects mRNA from degradation and assists in ribosome binding during translation.

40
Q

True or False: All cells in an organism express the same genes.

A

False.

41
Q

What is the purpose of gene regulation?

A

Gene regulation ensures that the right genes are expressed at the right times and in the right amounts.

42
Q

What is a genetic disorder?

A

A genetic disorder is a disease caused by abnormalities in an individual’s DNA.

43
Q

What is the role of telomeres?

A

Telomeres protect the ends of chromosomes from deterioration or fusion with neighboring chromosomes.

44
Q

What is recombinant DNA technology?

A

Recombinant DNA technology involves combining DNA from different sources to create new genetic combinations.

45
Q

What is gene therapy?

A

Gene therapy is a technique that modifies a person’s genes to treat or prevent disease.

46
Q

What is CRISPR technology?

A

CRISPR is a gene-editing technology that allows for precise modifications to the DNA of organisms.

47
Q

True or False: DNA can be found in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells.

A

False.

48
Q

What is a phenotype?

A

A phenotype is the observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism, determined by its genotype.

49
Q

What is a genotype?

A

A genotype is the genetic constitution of an organism, specifically the alleles it carries.

50
Q

What is the difference between dominant and recessive alleles?

A

Dominant alleles express their traits even when only one copy is present, while recessive alleles require two copies to express their traits.