DNA, mitosis, stem cells Flashcards
mtDNA
Mitochondrial DNA, 5-10 mtDNA molecules in mitochondria
1% of total DNA
Found in Mitochondria
forms circular DNA molecule
37 genes, 24 for making tRNA, 13 for making enzymes necessary for cellular respiration
DNA structure
Is a polymer (molecule of many repeating units) made of nucleotides in form of strands Two strands twist into double helix 2-3m long 1 millionth of m thick Order of bases determines genetic code.
nucleotide
Small repeating units
composed of: deoxirybose, phosphate group, nitrogenous base
Sugar molecule of one nucleotide bonds phosphate group of another one
two strands join by specific nitrogenous bases being attracted to one another by weak hydrogen bonds
Up to 2 million codes
average chromosome is made of 140 million base pairs
Types of nitrogenous bases
adenine Thymine cytosol guanine Uracil (RNA)
Chromosomes
super-coiled structures
Made when cells divide
large enough to see with light microscope
46 in each human cell
Each chromosome is made up of sections of DNA that code for particular proteins
each section called a gene.
Chromatin
DNA when cell isn’t splitting
Forms tangled network in nucleus
Histone
Protein in which DNA wraps around to form nucleosome
RNA
Ribonucleic Acid
Sugar molecule is Ribose not Deoxyribose, ribose has 1 more oxygen atom
RNA is single stranded
Has uracil no thymine
Strand able to fold on itself, forming hydrogen bonds between complementary bases
types of RNA
mRNA
rRNA
tRNA
mRNA
messenger RNA
Made in nucleus and takes genetic code into cytoplasm allowing genetic code into cytoplasm allowing genetic code to be ‘read’ by ribosomes
rRNA
Ribosomal RNA
60% of ribosome mass, other is protein
Ensures correct alignment of mRNA, tRNA and ribosome
also has enzymatic bonds between amino acids
tRNA
Transfer RNA
contains 70-90 nucleotides
Each tRNA is able to carry specific amino acid, therefore plays vital role in protein synthesis
start codon
AUG
Methionine
Stop codon
UAG
Transcription
process by which genetic instructions are copied from DNA to RNA
Transcription triggered by chemical messengers entering nucleus from cytosol and bind to relevant genes on DNA
Helicase enzyme seperates strands, usually 17 bases at time
RNA Polymerase then copies on one strand to create a strand of mRNA wt identical information as parent strand.
Often many polymerase follow first to make many copies at once
template strand
Strand that is copied
coding strand
Other strand
bases on strand will be identical to mRNA (except for uracil and thymine)
Translation
production of protein using info coded in mRNA molecule
In cytosol, ribosome attaches to one end of mRNA at start codon
ribosome then moves along mRNA 3 bases at a time
As ribosome reads codons on mRNA, tRNA with complementary bases join to mRNA
amino acids carried by tRNA are joined so protein is assembled wt amino acids in correct sequence
Gene expression
process of copying info from DNA onto mRNA, then translating the message into a series of amino acids to form protein
Cell is producing mRNA based on the cell’s purpose.
cell can produce up to 150 000 proteins per second
Genes used are ‘switched on’
genes not used are ‘switched off’
Factors affecting gene expression
age of cell Time of day signals from other cells Environment of the cells whether or not cell is dividing