Genetics Flashcards
What direction is the DNA chain read?
5 Carbon — 3 Hydroxyl (strands in antiparallel fashion)
What are the bases in DNA vs RNA
A-T, C-G
A-U, C-G
Describe the formation of a chromosome
Association of the DNA strand with histone proteins which wind together
Define G0 phase of the cell cycle
Most cells are resting, carrying out their normal function
Define G1 phase of the cell cycle
1st growth phase as chromosomes become ready to be replicated
Define S phase of the cell cycle
DNA replication occurs
Define G2 phase of the cell cycle
2nd growth phase involving proteins etc.
Define M phase of the cell cycle
Mitosis - mechanical separation of cell into two daughter cells
Two daughter cells are identical, diploid cells
PMAT: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase
Variation occurs during meiosis by two main methods, which are?
Crossing over
Independent segregation of homologous chromosomes
In meiosis, one diploid cell becomes..
Four haploid daughter cells
Describe the process of transcription and translation from DNA into a protein
DNA is transcribed to pre mRNA
Pre mRNA is spliced to mRNA
mRNA is translated to protein
Protein is modified and modified around the cell
What is the difference between introns vs exons?
INTRONS: non coding sequences of mRNA not in final protein (spliced out)
EXONS: coding sequence of mRNA not in final protein (1-2% codes)
Give examples of sequence variations between genes and within genes respectivey
Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) Deletions/duplications
Changes in promotor or exon sequence
Copy number variations (CNVs) - extra or missing stretches of DNA
A polymorphism is…
A change in the genome that does not cause disease in its own right, but can predispose to a common disease (has a population frequency 1%)
Each copy of the genome is slightly different. True/False?
True
Everyone has new genetic variants that their parents don’t
New mutations are also acquired during meiosis
What percentage of the human genome is exons?
2-3% of 30 million bases
A chromosome consists of…
Telomeres at each end
Short arm (p)
Centromere
Long arm (q)
A chromosome is acrocentric if…
The p (short) arm is so short it is hard to observe
An aneuploidy is…
An abnormal number of chromosomes
Monosomy - missing chromosome from one pair Trisomy - extra chromosome in a pair
Reciprocal translocations are when…
Segments from two different chromosomes have been exchanged
Robertsonian translocations are when…
A chromosome attaches to another chromosome at the centromere
Only occurs with 13, 14, 15, 21, 22 - two acrocentric chromosomes stuck end-end creating a normal phenotype
Monosomy of the sex chromosomes causes…
Turners syndrome 45XO
Trisomy of chromosome 21 causes…
Downs syndrome
What is FISH?
DNA probes specifically bind to areas of individual chromosomes and apply a fluorescein stain to make the chromosome visible
Useful for detecting aneuploidies