Inheritance, Variation and Evolution Flashcards
What shape is DNA
Double helix
What are chromosomes
Long molecules of DNA
What is a gene and what does it do
A short section of DNA found on a chromosome that codes for a specific protein
What is the genome
The entire set of genetic material within an organism
Why is knowing the entire human genome useful
Can identify which genes are linked to different types of disease
Can identify which genes are linked to inherited diseases
Can use the genome to track the migration that humans took from Africa
What are the monomers for DNA
Nucleotides
What is a nucleotide made up of
Sugar
Phosphate
Base
Which bases pair up with each other
A + T
C + G
How many bases code for 1 amino acid
3
What do non-coding parts of DNA do
Control whether or not a gene is expressed
How does protein synthesis happen
DNA Unzips
mRNA copies the code from the bases
moves into ribosomes in the cytoplasm
A tRNA carrier molecule carrying an amino acid
complementary bases attach
joins amino acid chain
then folds up uniquely to form a protein
Uses of proteins
Enzymes
Hormones
Structural proteins eg collagen
What is a mutation
A random change in an organism’s DNA
Can sometimes be inherited
Most mutations have little to no affect
A mutation in non-coding DNA may affect which genes are expressed
However some mutations can seriously affect a protein as it can change the way the fold up, meaning the substrate may no longer be able to bind to it
What are the different types of mutation
Insertions
Deletions
Substitutions
How many chromosomes does each gamete have in humans
23 (half)
What type of cell(in terms of difference) does sexual reproduction produce
Genetically different cells
What type of cells (in terms of difference) does asexual reproduction produce
Genetically identical cells
How are gametes produced
Meiosis