Lecture/Lab 3

Question 1

What does DNA stand for?

Answer 1

Deoxyribonucleic acid

Question 2

How are proteins made? Give an example of a protein synthesis chain.

Answer 2

1. low energy activates a particular transcription factor
2. binds to a specific promotor on a DNA sequence
3. activates the downstream gene
4. codes for a glucose transporter
5. more glucose transporter proteins are made from tRNA and inserted into the cell membrane
6. cells can better access circulating glucose

proteins are made by replicating DNA and that replicated DNA is mRNA and travels out of the cell nucleus to the ribosomes which read the mrna and using trna it is turned into amino acid sequences which are then combined to create polypeptides, which in turn create proteins.

Question 3

How do genes work? are they direct messages for the cells?

Answer 3

Genes are multiple nucleotides which code for specific protein which will create a chain reaction. they are direct messages for cells, however, the environment plays a vital role in how they are read

Question 4

Who is the father of genetics?

Answer 4

Gregor Mendel

Question 5

What is chromosomal theory and who coined the term?

Answer 5

Thomas Hunt Morgan and his use with fruit flies
solidified chromosomal theory by stating that genes are linked and some may be inherited together rather than separate

Question 6

T of F: there are many different genetic codes.

Answer 6

False

Question 7

What is the order of protein synthesis using biological/genetic terms?

Answer 7

pre-transcription, transcription, post-transcription, translation, post-translation

Question 8

how much of the human genomic code is protein coding?

Answer 8

1.2%

Question 9

What is the difference between qualitative traits and quantitative traits?

Answer 9

qualitative or simple traits are those like the ones studied in Mendels labs. They code for one specific phenotype and will not change. for example, ear wax in humans
quantitative traits are also considered polygenic. they are an interaction between any different genes and the environment and can be presented in the phenotype as a spectrum. ie. skin colour.

Question 10

Describe phenotypic plasticity

Answer 10

the ability to adapt to ones changing environment without permanent genetic change

Question 11

What is a silent mutation

Answer 11

silent mutations don’t harm the individual because we have codons that code for the same protein

Question 12

Why did Darwin need Mendel?

Answer 12

If Darwin had collaborated with Mendel and combined the theories of natural selection and heredity then they would’ve been unstoppable. these two theories together have solid evidence of how traits are adapted to the environment and how they are inherited from parents to offspring.

Question 13

What is the modern synthesis? basis

Answer 13

is the addition of Mendel and Darwins work
it is refuted by mutationists that believe the sole driver of evolution is the presence of mutations within a species that makes it more adapted to its environment. However, that notion is incorrect. natural selection is the sole driver of evolution
Mutationist - Hugo DeVries work on monarchs (cyanide) and Viceroy

Question 14

What are the 7 tenets of the modern synthesis?

Answer 14

1. phenotype doesn’t equal genotype
2. effect of environment on phenotype does not affect genes passed to offspring (refuted by Lamarck and epigenetic)
3. genes don’t blend… some traits are continuous (pan genesis?)
4. natural populations are genetically variable
5. variances between geographically different populations track differences in environment
6. genes do mutate… slowly and too slowly to drive evolution
7. natural selection is the primary driver of evolution (fisher)