DNA, RNA, and Proteins Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the three components of a nucleotide?

A

A 5-carbon sugar
A phosphate group
A nitrogenous base

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2
Q

Where is DNA found?

A

In the nucleus

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3
Q

Where is RNA primarily found?

A

In the cytoplasm

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4
Q

What are the two purines?

A

Adenine and guanine

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5
Q

What are the two pyramidines?

A

Cytosine and Thymine

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6
Q

What did Watson and Crick do?

A

They made a model of the structure of DNA

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7
Q

What is the structure of DNA?

A

A double helix with phosphate and sugar at the sides, and nitrogenous bases forming the rungs of the ladder
Made up of two complementary strands

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8
Q

What is DNA replication?

A

The process of making a copy of DNA, using each strand as a template. Produces two identical DNA molecules

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9
Q

What is the three step process of DNA replication?

A
  1. The double helix unwinds at the REPLICATION FORK
  2. DNA Polymerase attaches to each strand at the end, and then moves along, reading each base and attaching a new, complementary base
  3. At the end of the strand, polymerase leaves.
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10
Q

How are errors checked for during DNA replication?

A

DNA polymerase can proofread the new DNA strand, backtracking to add, remove, or change the bases

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11
Q

What do the instructions in DNA code for?

A

Proteins

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12
Q

What do proteins do?

A

Structural purposes
Enzymes
Determine the traits we have

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13
Q

Are proteins built directly from DNA?

A

Nope

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14
Q

Name the three ways RNA differs from DNA.

A
  1. Single strand of nucleotides
  2. Has RIBOSE instead of DEOXYRIBOSE
  3. Has Uracil instead of Thymine
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15
Q

What is transcription? Where does it happen?

A

The process by which a gene’s instructions for making proteins are transferred from a DNA molecule to an RNA molecule.
It happens in the nucleus, where the DNA is located.

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16
Q

How is transcription similar to, but not exactly like, DNA replication?

A

One strand of RNA is made (instead of double stranded DNA)

One strand is used as a template (instead of both)

17
Q

Describe the process of transcription. (3 steps - SAS)

A
  1. S - START: RNA polymerase binds to a start sequence.
  2. A - ADD: RNA polymerase adds and links complementary RNA nucleotides (with U instead of T)
  3. S - STOP: Continues until RNA polymerase reaches a STOP codon
18
Q

What does mRNA (messenger RNA) do? How are instructions written - what is their “language”?

A

It carries the instructions for building a protein from the DNA to the ribosome, where the instructions are read
Written in CODONS - three nitrogenous bases in a row

19
Q

What is the Genetic Code?

A

A table of all 64 codons and the amino acids that they code for

20
Q

What is translation? Where does it happen?

A

Using different types of RNA molecules to read the instructions on mRNA and put together the amino acids that make up the proteins it codes for.
It happens in the cytoplasm, at the ribosomes

21
Q

What is tRNA (transfer RNA)?

A

It’s a folded molecule that carries a specific amino acid (“in its trunk”) and the other end has an ANTICODON - a three-base sequence that is complementary to a specific mRNA codon

22
Q

What is rRNA (ribosomal RNA)?

A

Helps make up ribosomes, which is where translation happens

23
Q

What are the 5 steps of translation? (RAATS)

A
  1. R - Ribosome Reads (codon)
  2. A - (tRNA with) Anticodon Attaches
  3. A - Amino Acids bind, forming a chain
  4. T - tRNA leaves (to make space for a new one)
  5. S - continues until reaches a STOP codon
24
Q

What is a mutation? How can it be passed on to offspring?

A

A mutation is a change in the sequence of a gene.
They can be passed on through the gametes - if they happen in a body cell, they’ll only affect the individual in which they occur

25
Q

What is a GENE REARRANGEMENT? What is an example?

A

An entire gene moves to a new location

TRANSLOCATION - part of a chromosome moves to a new location, whether within the same chromosome or a different one.

26
Q

What is GENE ALTERATION?

A

Mutations that change a gene itself

27
Q

What is a substitution mutation?

A

One nucleotide is replaced with a different one

28
Q

What is a missense mutation?

A

Results in a change in a single amino acid in the final polypeptide chain

29
Q

What is a silent mutation?

A

The new codon codes for the same amino acid, so no change occurs

30
Q

What is an INSERTION?

A

A piece of DNA is inserted into the genes

31
Q

What is a DELETION?

A

When segments of a gene are lost.

32
Q

What is a frameshift mutation, and what are two mutations that can cause it?

A

When a gene is read in the wrong there base sequence

Can be from an insertion or a deletion, because they can change the codon grouping