Module 6 - Genetics Flashcards
Gene
section of a DNA molecule
has the biochemical instructions for cells
Genetic information, stored in the structure of DNA, determines what things?
Directs cell structure and day to day cell function
determines appearance
environment response
unit of inheritance
disease susceptibility
how we react to drugs/medications
Genome
total genetic content
Human genome has about 20,300 protein encoding genes
The genome is __% the same in all people
99.9%
the 0.1% difference accounts for individual trait differences
___ create much of our identity
Proteins
Genetic information survives through what 3 things?
- Cell division
- Cell Renewal
- Tissue growth
DNA can ___
replicate
DNA converts to mRNA via ___
transcription
RNA makes proteins via ___
translation
What is the structure of Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)?
Large stable macromolecule
Double helix and base pairing
“spiral staircase with the paired bases resembling steps”
It is a long double stranded helical molecule composed of nucleotides
Where is DNA primarily found?
Mostly in the nucleus but mtDNA is found in the mitochondria
What makes up a Nucleotide in DNA
Phosphoric Acid + 5 Carbon Sugar Deoxyribose _ 1 of 4 nitrogenous bases
2 Kinds of Nitrogenous Bases
Purines and Pyrimidines
Purines
2 nitrogen ring structures
- Adenine
- Guanine
Pyrimidines
Have one nitrogen ring
- Thymine (and Uracil)
- Cytosine
What are the complementary base pairs in DNA and RNA?
A-T (DNA only)
A-U (RNA only)
G-C
Nucleotide
single building block of DNA
Nitrogenous Bases
The basic structure of DNA and carry genetic information in 2 groups (purines and pyrimidines)
How many strands are there after DNA replication?
2 strands become 4 strands
What is the backbone of DNA?
alternating groups of sugars and phosphate with paired nitrogenous bases projecting inwards from the sides of sugar molecules
mtDNA
mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondria have their own DNA, different from that of the nucleus
What is the structure of mtDNA
packaged in a double stranded CIRCULAR chromosome
How is mtDNA passed on?
from mother to children
*so all mtDNA disorders come from the mother, not the father
What does mtDNA code for and why?
Codes for enzymes involved in oxidative phosphorylation reactions
without it/if mutated oxi phos cannot occur leading to energy and ATP abnormalities
Which kind of DNA can repair itself and which cannot?
DNA - can
mtDNA cannot repair itself
Mutations of mtDNA tend to cause dysfunction in what?
tissues with high utilization of ATP (ex: nerve, kidney, muscle, liver)
What is linked to aging?
mtDNA
What mutates more rapidly, DNA or mtDNA
mtDNA
What kind of genetic information is more likely to remain after extensive damage due to the sheer amount of copies there are?
mtDNA
Chromosomes
visible only ion dividing cells
they are tightly packaged DNA
Chromosomes take shape…
before division
Centromere
Connects the sides of chromosomes and are found in the pinched region of the chromosome
made of DNA and proteins
it connects the chromosome
Chromatin
DNA molecules and structural proteins combined
Seen in non-dividing cells
It is unwound DNA and proteins together - DNA does its work in this less compacted form
Histones
Proteins that the double helix wraps around (histones = proteins) when DNA replicates for organization
What form does DNA take during division?
Chromosome
What form does DNA take when not dividing?
Chromatin
The genome is distributed in ___
chromosomes (it is through chromosomes that our genetic information is distributed)
Genes are linear along ___
chromosomes
Humans have __ chromosomes arranged in pairs
46
Each chromosome contains..
1 continuous linear DNA helix
Haploid
A complete set of one of each chromosomes (23 total)
Diploid
A cell containing 2 sets of the 23 chromosomes in pairs (46 total)
Autosomes
22 chromosome pairs that do not determine gender
Sex Chromosomes
X and Y chromosomes
Female Sex Chromosomes
XX
Male Sex Chromosomes
XY
Reproductive Cells
Ova and Sperm (each only have 1 chromosome from each parent making them haploid (23) cells)
DNA is the basis of life because of 3 qualities what are they?
- they hold information
- It can copy itself
- it changes
In a female, only what is active in controlling the expression of genetic traits?
one X chromosome
Karyotype
an organized arrangement of all the chromosomes within one cell during the M phase of mitosis
Paired and then arranged by number according to size and position of the centromere
What model did Watson and Crick (1953) suggest was the proper model of DNA replication?
Semiconservative model
Meselson-Stahl Experiment
experiment that verified the semiconservative model of DNA replication
Semiconservative Model of DNA replication
Describes the method by which DNA is replicated in all known cells
It states that replication has DNA replicate before cell division to make two copies each containing one of the original DNA strands and an entirely new copy strand
RNA
long single stranded molecule involved in the actual synthesis of cellular enzymes and proteins
RNA polymerase
enzyme in the nucleus that synthesizes RNA
What is the structure of RNA
single nucleotide chain and one complimentary copy of a DNA strand
What is different between RNA and DNA?
- RNA is single stranded but DNA is double helix
- Thymine is replaced with Uracil in RNA
- RNA has a RIBOSE instead of Deoxyribose sugar
RNA can act …
as an enzyme and speed up chemical reactions
RNA is a ___ copy of a DNA strand
complementary copy
3 Types of RNA
mRNA
tRNA
rRNA
mRNA
Messenger RNA - “The Template”
Contains the transcribed instructions for protein synthesis obtained from the DNA molecule and carrier them to the cytoplasm while leaving the nucleolus
Holds the information on the order of amino acids in a protein via Codon sequences of nucleotides
Codon
chain of 3 mRNA nucleotides that specify insertion of one of the twenty different amino acids
A sequence of 3 bases forming a fundamental triplet code for transmitting information for protein synthesis
tRNA
Transfer RNA - “The Transporter”
Delivers the appropriate amino acids to the ribosome, where they are incorporated into the protein being synthesized
What is unique about tRNA shape?
There are 20 different kinds, each corresponding to one of 20 amino acids, in order to bring the AA to the ribosomes
Also it is a cloverleaf shape and the smallest RNA
What is the smallest RNA type
tRNA
Where is the site of protein synthesis
Ribosomes
rRNA
Ribosomal RNA - “The Synthesizer”
Provides the machinery needed for protein synthesis
It provides the structural support for the growing protein
Where is rRNA synthesized?
in the nucleolus (unlike other RNA types) and transported to the endoplasmic reticulum
Function and Structure of mRNA
functions as a blueprint; it is a code for a single protein (or polypeptide chain)
it is single stranded
Structure and Function of tRNA
the translator, capable of reading the mRNA language and binding corresponding amino acid to a growing peptide chain
cloverleaf shape
Structure and Function of rRNA
the factory, an “enzyme” of sorts
it is a complex with proteins
The bridge between the gene and protein is?
RNA
Transcription
the process of making RNA from DNA
RNA copy of a DNA sequence
Translation
the process of making proteins from RNA (genetic code to protein code)
In eukaryotes, RNA must undergo what to become mRNA
processing
Protein Synthesis
the selective activation of a gene which results in the production of the appropriate protein
What things are required to meet in translation for protein synthesis?
mature mRNA
tRNA
molecules carrying AA
rRNA
ATP and GTP
Verious protein factors
Where does transcription occur?
cell nucleolus
How is transcription done?
Weak H bonds of DNA are broken so free RNA nucleotides can pair with exposed DNA counterparts (unzipping) on the meaningful DNA strand –> RNA polymerase recognized the beginning or start sequence of a gene –> RNA polymerase then attaches to the double stranded DNA and copies the meaningful strand into a single strand of RNA –> once at the stop signal, the enzyme leaves the gene and releases the RNA strand
The Genetic Code
universal language used by most living cells
Four (nitrogenous) bases make up the alphabet for this code and can be arranged in 64 possible combinations of 3s called codons
Each gene provides the genetic code for making…
one specific protein
61 codon combinations correspond to a specific AA, but 3 are…
stop codons
How many amino acids are used in protein synthesis?
only 20, so the code is redundant or degenerate
Synonyms
codons that specify the same amino acids
they usually have the first two bases the same, but the third base differs
Stop Code/Coedon
signals the end of a protein molecule
Amino acids are the …
building blocks of life (and proteins)
the genetic code can survive…
the many stages of cell division, cell renewal, and tissue growth
Translation
process of matching amino acieds to corresponding sets of 3 bases (codons) and linking them into a protein
How does translation occur?
RNA leaves the nucleus and attaches to the (small rRNA subunit) ribosome to begin (it contains the instructions for a particular protein) –> AAs are brought by tRNA and linked to make polypeptide chains –> Ribosomes read the 3 bases together to do the corresponding bases
If the mRNA codon is UCG, what will the tRNA bring to link?
AGC (complementary/pair to it)
What is the pathway to DNA directed protein synthesis?
DNA (nucleus) –> mRNA (Nucleus) –> tRNA (cytoplasm) –> rRNA (ribosome in cytoplasm) –> protein synthesis
The basic structure of a protein is …
an amino acid sequence
What are proteins responsible for?
The functional diversity of cells
Performs most biological functions
Has many regulatory processes take place
Can cause many disease processes to occur
Where most drug targets are found (here and at translation)
What determines a proteins function?
the AA sequence/chain
Example of a protein that does regulatory processes?
Dystrophin - structural protein - it functions to maintain muscle integrity, and a mutation in the gene coding for this protein can lead to the most commonly inherited myopathy, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Cell Proliferation
process by which cells divide and reproduce
inherent adaptive mechanism for replacing body cells when old cells die or additional cells are needed
__% of body cells are replaced daily either via mitosis or meiosis
10%
2 Kinds of Cell Division
Mitosis
Meiosis
Gametes
ovum and sperm
haploid (1 set of chromosomes)
designed for sexual function
one kind of cell
Somatic cells
any body cell diploid (2 chromosome sets) and not gametes
How many kinds of cells are there
200+
What are the 3 main types of cells
- Well differentiated that are unable to divide or reproduce
- Parent (progenitor) cells that continue to divide and reproduce
- Undifferentiated stem cells that can be triggered to enter the cell cycle and produce large numbers of progenitor cells when needed
Cell differentiation
process in which proliferating cells are transformed into different and more specialized cell types
process occurs in orderly steps
What does cell differentiation result in ?
Fully differentiated adult cell with specific sets of structural, functional, and life expectancy characteristics
What is the exchange existing with cell differentiation?
Increased specialization is exchanged for loss of ability to develop different cell characteristics and different cell lines
Stem cell
Cell that remains incompletely differentiated throughout life
remains quiescent until cell replenishment is needed
one daughter cell retains characteristics of a stem cell while the other differentiated into a parent or progenitor cell with a limited potential for differentiation and proliferation
Fully differentiated cells can no longer…
undergo mitosis
The ultimate stem cell is
a fertilized ovum