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Molecular biology > Intro 1_Molecular_Biology_Flashcards > Flashcards

Intro 1_Molecular_Biology_Flashcards

1
Q

What is molecular biology?

A

The study of macromolecules and their mechanisms in living organisms.

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2
Q

What are the key focuses of molecular biology?

A

Molecular nature of genes, gene replication, mutation, and gene expression.

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3
Q

What is the central dogma?

A

Genetic information flows from DNA to RNA to protein.

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4
Q

What are the two key processes in the central dogma?

A

Transcription (DNA to RNA) and Translation (RNA to protein).

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5
Q

Who explained the central dogma and emphasized the one-way flow of information?

A

Francis Crick.

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6
Q

When did molecular biology emerge?

A

In the 1930s and 1940s.

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7
Q

Who first identified DNA and what was it called?

A

Friedrich Miescher, called it ‘nuclein’.

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8
Q

Who coined the term ‘molecular biology’?

A

Warren Weaver in 1938.

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9
Q

What did Chargaff’s rules state?

A

Ratios of A to T and G to C are equal in DNA.

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10
Q

What major discovery did Watson and Crick make in 1953?

A

The double helical structure of DNA.

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11
Q

Who discovered mRNA?

A

Francois Jacob and Jacques Monod in 1961.

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12
Q

What did Francis Crick decipher in 1961?

A

The triplet codon pattern.

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13
Q

What are the three components of DNA?

A

Deoxyribose sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogenous bases.

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14
Q

What are the four nitrogenous bases in DNA?

A

Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Cytosine (C), Guanine (G).

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15
Q

What pairs with A in DNA, and how many bonds?

A

Thymine (T) with 2 hydrogen bonds.

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16
Q

What pairs with C in DNA, and how many bonds?

A

Guanine (G) with 3 hydrogen bonds.

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17
Q

What is the orientation of DNA strands?

A

Antiparallel (5’ to 3’ and 3’ to 5’).

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18
Q

What stabilizes DNA?

A

Hydrogen bonds, base stacking interactions, and hydrophobic interactions.

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19
Q

Is DNA soluble in water?

A

Yes, due to hydrophilic phosphate groups.

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20
Q

At what wavelength does DNA absorb UV light?

A

260 nm.

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21
Q

What is DNA denaturation?

A

Separation of double strands into single strands by heat or extreme pH.

22
Q

What is renaturation?

A

Rejoining of DNA strands when conditions return to normal.

23
Q

What is the melting temperature (Tm) of DNA?

A

The temperature at which half of the DNA is denatured.

24
Q

Why is DNA negatively charged?

A

Due to phosphate groups in its backbone.

25
Q

How is DNA packaged in the nucleus?

A

Using histones to form nucleosomes.

26
Q

Where is mitochondrial DNA located?

A

Inside mitochondria.

27
Q

What is the shape of mtDNA?

A

Circular, double-stranded.

28
Q

How many genes does mtDNA contain?

A

37 genes (2 rRNAs, 22 tRNAs, and 13 for proteins).

29
Q

How does mtDNA replicate?

A

Independently of nuclear DNA.

30
Q

What is the shape of nuclear DNA?

A

Linear double helix.

31
Q

What is the shape of mitochondrial and bacterial DNA?

A

Circular.

32
Q

Is histone association present in nuclear DNA?

A

Yes, but absent in mitochondrial and bacterial DNA.

33
Q

How is mitochondrial DNA inherited?

A

Maternally.

34
Q

Where is eukaryotic DNA located?

A

In the nucleus.

35
Q

Where is prokaryotic DNA located?

A

In the cytoplasm.

36
Q

Are plasmids present in eukaryotic DNA?

A

No, but often present in prokaryotic DNA.

37
Q

Are introns present in eukaryotic DNA?

A

Usually, but absent in prokaryotic DNA.

38
Q

What is a nucleotide?

A

A molecule consisting of a sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogenous base.

39
Q

What is a nucleoside?

A

A nucleotide without a phosphate group.

40
Q

What are purines?

A

Double-ring bases (A and G).

41
Q

What are pyrimidines?

A

Single-ring bases (C, T, and U).

42
Q

What bonds link nucleotides in DNA?

A

Phosphodiester bonds.

43
Q

Where does transcription occur?

A

In the nucleus.

44
Q

Where does translation occur?

A

In ribosomes.

45
Q

What is Chargaff’s Rule?

A

A = T and G = C in DNA.

46
Q

What is a nucleosome?

A

DNA wrapped around histones.

47
Q

What is DNA base stacking?

A

Interactions between adjacent bases that stabilize DNA.

48
Q

What did Friedrich Miescher call DNA?

A

Nuclein.

49
Q

What type of bonds hold DNA base pairs together?

A

Hydrogen bonds.

50
Q

What feature of DNA ensures genetic stability during replication?

A

Complementary base pairing.

Molecular biology (10 decks)

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