Genetics (General) Flashcards
Gene
- specific linear sequences of nucleotides located at a specific position (locus) along a chromosome -
- a segment of DNA that codes for a protein, which in turn codes for a trait
Allele
An alternate form of a gene that occur at the same locus of a given chromosome
Locus
a specific position on a given chromosome
Nucleotide
combination of a sugar, a phosphate group, and a base
Purine bases
Adenine (A) Guanine (G)
Pyrimidine bases:
Thymine (T) Uracil (U) in RNA Cytosine (C)
mRNA (messenger RNA)
carries the code for specific amino acid sequences from the DNA to the cytoplasm for protein synthesis. Is a single stranded linear sequence of nucleotides (replacement of thymine by uracil, which also pairs with adenine)
tRNA (transfer RNA)
carries the amino acid groups to the ribosome for protein synthesis
rRNA (ribosomal RNA)
exists within the ribosomes and is thought to assist in protein synthesis
Transcription
RNA is made from DNA
Translation
Proteins are made from the message on the RNA
RNA Polymerase
is the enzyme responsible for DNA Transcription
redundancy
Amino acids can be specified by several different codons called
Splicing
process where introns are cut out (process that takes place during mRNA processing)
Intron:
are the regions that are not represented in the mRNA
Exon:
regions that are represented in mRNA and specify protein-coding sequences and the sequences of the untranslated 5’ and 3’ regions
Probe:
- A small slice of DNA whose sequence is complementary to the DNA sequence under study
- Probes may be natural or artificially manufactured
Vector:
an independent, self-replicating element
DNA Library:
-The total amount of bacterial clones harboring recombinant vectors is termed DNA library
Plasmid (vectors)
- Are round molecules of double-stranded DNA that are found naturally in bacteria
- Are used to move genes from cell to cell
How is DNA purity assessed
by the ratio of its optical density at 260nm to that at 280nm, with the OD 260/280 ratio for pure DNA being 1.8
Low ratios of DNA purity
<1.6 DNA is contaminated with protein or materials used in the isolation procedure
High ratios of DNA purity
>2.0, indicated that the DNA is contaminated with RNA
PCR steps
1) Denature 2) Annealing 3) Extension
Reverse Transcriptase (RT) - PCR
When RNA is reverse transcribed, the resulting DNA is a single-stranded complementary copy of the RNA and is referred to as complementary DNA (cDNA)
Gel Detection
Detects bands by staining with ethidium bromide, during or after electrophoresis Amplified DNA analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis in presence of ethidium bromide which binds to double stranded DNA and is visible under UV light
Real-Time PCR
employs one or more “probes” that fluoresce only when the correct amplicon is present.
RFLP
restriction fragment length polymorphisms