Dna Replication And The Genetic Code

Question 1

Why is DNA replication described as semi-conservative?

Answer 1

Each new DNA molecule is made up of one new and one old/template strand

Question 2

State the enzymes involved in DNA replication.

Answer 2

DNA helicase + DNA polymerase

Question 3

State the function of DNA polymerase.

Answer 3

Catalyses formation of phosphodiester bonds between DNA nucleotides

Question 4

State the function of DNA helicase.

Answer 4

Unzips DNA double helix, breaking hydrogen bonds

Question 5

The free nucleotides pair up with the exposed bases on the DNA strands based on …… (which principle?)

Answer 5

Complementary base pairing

Question 6

DNA polymerase can only build phosphodiester bonds on the daughter strand in a particular direction. What is this direction?

Answer 6

5’ to 3’

Question 7

In which direction of the template strand does the DNA polymerase move in?

Answer 7

3’ to 5’

Question 8

Define ‘genetic code’.

Answer 8

The sequence of bases in DNA that codes for the sequence of amino acids in protein production

Question 9

The genetic code is described as ‘degenerate’. What does that mean?

Answer 9

Many different triplet codes/codons can code for the same amino acid

Question 10

Define ‘gene’.

Answer 10

A section of DNA containing the base sequence that codes for a protein

Question 11

What is a codon?

Answer 11

Triplet bases on RNA that codes for an amino acid