Gene Expression and Protein Synthesis Part 1 - (Week 4)

Question 1

What are proteins?

Answer 1

• molecules made of many small units, amino acids

- sequence of amino acids depends on the dimensional structure & specific function

Question 2

What did Archibald Garrod discover?

Answer 2

• diseases were inborn of metabolism
• suggested genes dictate phenotype through enzymes that catalyse specific chemical reactions
• genes produce enzyme proteins

Question 3

What did Archibald Garrod discover mutations produced?

Answer 3

• homogenistic acid
  accumulating in the blood, turning it dark brown, symptoms of the disease reflect the inability of an enzyme to degrade a molecule.

Question 4

What does the gene-one enzyme hypothesis state?

Answer 4

• each gene dictates the production of a specific enzyme

Question 5

Whats is auxotrophy?

Answer 5

• the inabilty of an organism to synthesise a particular organic compound require for its growth

Question 6

What are some biological functions of proteins?

Answer 6

• light produced by fireflies (luciferin & luciferase)
• major structural component of spider webs
• toxin protein in castor bees (ricin)