Genetics Lecture 1: DNA - Structure and Function

Question 1

Heredity

Answer 1

The tendency of an organism to possess the characteristics of its parents.

Question 2

Genes

Answer 2

The elements or units which transfer/carry inherited information from parents to offspring.

Question 3

Genome

Answer 3

The complete DNA sequence, containing all genetic information.

Question 4

Covalent Structure of DNA

Answer 4

Very long polymer made of deoxyribonucleotide building blocks, where each unit is made of a base, a sugar and a phosphate.

Question 5

Nucleotide

Answer 5

Base - Sugar - Phosphate

They are the building blocks for nucleic acids.

Question 6

Phosphate Easter Link

Answer 6

Link between the sugar and the phosphate. It is most often on the 5’ Carbon.

Question 7

Deoxyribon

Answer 7

The Sugar in DNA. It’s derived from 5 carbon atoms.

Question 8

Bases

Answer 8

Nitrogen containing heterocyclic compounds

Question 9

What are the two types of bases?

Answer 9

Purines and Pyrimidines.

Question 10

Name the two Purines.

Answer 10

Adenine and Guanine.

Question 11

Name the two Pyrimidines.

Answer 11

Cytosine, Thymine (only in DNA), and Uracil (only in RNA).

Question 12

What direction do you read DNA’s backbone?

Answer 12

5’ to 3’

i.e. 5 Prime to 3 Prime.

Question 13

What is a protein sequence?

Answer 13

The ordered list of amino acids (Gly - Cys - Val)

Question 14

How many Nucleotides encode 1 Amino Acid?

Answer 14

3 Nucleotides

Question 15

State the Central Dogma.

Answer 15

DNA makes RNA make Protein.

Question 16

What is the process of replication?

Answer 16

DNA making more DNA.

Question 17

How are the nucleotide bases bonded?

Answer 17

Hydrogen Bonds. Each nucleotide base is bonded to a complementary base on the other strand.

Question 18

What are the 6 main features of DNA?

Answer 18

1. Sugar - Deoxyribon
2. Bases - Cytosine, Thymine, Adenine and Guanine
   3, Double Stranded Helix
3. More stable
4. Long lived Molecules
5. Used as information Store

Question 19

Describe Rosie.

Answer 19

Rosie is gentle, kind, sweet, loving and in the same breath, one of the most kick ass girls that I’ve ever met. She’s comfortable in her own skin, she’s always thinking about others and tries her absolute best to be nothing but herself. She’s got a subtle groove about her that makes every day just that bit better.

She also made it to the end of these BIOL notes and that in itself is worth commendation.