Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Bioprocess Engineering > Molecular biology > Flashcards

Molecular biology Flashcards

1
Q

What type of information does DNA encrypt and store?

A

Instructions for growth
functioning
reproduction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

How is encoded information quantified?

A

The encoded information is quantified as kilobase pairs.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are base pairs?

A

pairs of nucleotides in nucleic acid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

G

A

C

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

A

A

T

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Genome

A

Contains all genetic information of an organism (all its DNA)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is homeostasis?

A

Homeostasis is the state of steady internal conditions maintained by living things.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Give more information on homeostasis.

A
  • Dynamic state of equilibrium
  • condition of optimal functioning for the organism
  • variables such as temperature and fluid balance
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Hypothermia

A

Body temperature drops

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Heat exhaustion

A

Body temperature rises

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

DNA abbreviation stands for

A

Deoxyribonucleic Acid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Building blocks of DNA

A

The building blocks or DNA are Nucleotides.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Nucleotides comprise of

A

5 - carbon sugar (deoxyribose)
phosphate group
Nitrogenous base

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

How are nucleotides connected to each other?

A

Nucleotides are connected to each other to form a long chain phosphodiester bond between the adjacent nucleotides which are formed between the phosphate group of one nucleotide and the 3’-OH of the next nucleotide.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What orientation does a nucleotide chain have?

A

5’ to 3’ orientation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Between what is the phosphodiester bond between two nucleotides?

A

The phosphodiester bond is between the C5 and C3 of the furanose rings of two nucleotides.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

5’-end

A

Upstream

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

3’-end

A

downstream

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

How is the double helix formed?

A

The double helix is formed by
two sugar-phosphate backbones
Bases orient towards the interior

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Two strands of nucleotides are

A

antiparallel:
one is oriented 5’ to 3’
the other is oriented 3’ to 5’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

DNA structure

A

two antiparallel strands of nucleotides
strands wrap around each other to create a helical shape
Both strands store the same information

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Chromosomes

A

Supercoiled DNA or circular molecule of DNA

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

The central dogma of molecular biology

A

Information flows in one direction:

DNA -> RNA -> protein

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Replication

A

The flow of information from DNA to DNA

25
Q

Transcription

A

The flow of information from DNA to RNA

26
Q

Translation

A

The flow of information from RNA to protein

27
Q

An exception to the central dogma

A 
Retroviruses
-carry RNA not DNA
-use reverse transcription to convert RNA to DNA
-then follows the central dogma
RNA ->DNA->RNA->Polypeptide ->Virus
28
Q

HIV

A
  • lentviruses (lent = slow)

- use reverse transcriptase (RT)

29
Q

HIV antivirals

A
  • Reverse transcriptase inhibitors and proteases
  • target specific sites in the RT enzyme
  • Sequence for enzyme mutates because RNA is inherently unstable
  • Change in protein results in drug losing its target site
30
Q

Why is DNA replication important?

A

To ensure a complete copy of the genome is transferred to daughter cells after cell division.

31
Q

Organelle differentiation

A

When sections of the genome are selectively decoded to protein, depending on the requirements.

32
Q

DNA replication is semi-conservative. What does this mean?

A

Each strand of DNA acts as a template for the synthesis of a new strand.
i.e. each daughter strand has one of the original parental strands. In other words, two copies of DNA is made where each contains one of the original strands and one new strand.

33
Q

Three steps of DNA replication

A

Initiation: Replication begins at an origin of replication
Elongation: New strands of DNA are synthesized by an enzyme called DNA POLYMERASE.
Termination: Replication is terminated differently in prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

34
Q

The first step of Replication begins at

A

the first step of replication begins at the origin of replication and proceeds in both directions around the chromosome, before terminating where the polymerase meet. The site where replication occurs is called the replication fork.

35
Q

DNA Replication

A
  • Double helix is unwounded by the enzyme HELICASE
  • Replication always occurs towards the 3’ end of the molecule (DNA polymerase III)
  • Pol III adds nucleotides to 3’ end of daughter strand of DNA
36
Q

DNA replication is

A

semi-discontinuous (Pol III can only add nucleotides to the 3’ end of the newly synthesized strand)

37
Q

The leading strand is synthesized _ in DNA replication

A

Continuously (in the same direction as the replication fork).

38
Q

The lagging strand is synthesized _ in DNA replication.

A

Discontinuous (creates Okazaki fragments)

39
Q

Replication in Eukaryotes

A

Replication in Eukaryotes is more complicated than in prokaryotes, as DNA has a larger size and more complex packaging.

  • DNA is thus replicated at multiple origins.
  • Enzymes are more complex than those of prokaryotic cells.
40
Q

How many amino acids can the 4 nucleotides encode

A

The 4 nucleotides (A, G, T, C) can encode 20 amino acids.

41
Q

Codon

A

A set of three nucleotides, which codes for one specific amino acid.

42
Q

Reading frame

A

a continuous stretch of codons

43
Q

Open Reading frame (ORF)

A

part of the reading frame that can be translated.

Only 1 reading frame is correct for encoding the correct sequence of amino acids (one gene codes for one polypeptide).

44
Q

Start codon

A

the codon (AUG) in the ORF that signifies the start of translation. (Same codons in pro- and eukaryotes.)

45
Q

Stop codons

A

Three codons (UUA, UGA, UAG) in the ORF terminate translation. (Same protons in pro- and eukaryotes.)

46
Q

Transcription process steps

A

Initiation: RNA polymerase identifies where to begin DNA transcription. The specific site of initiation is called a promoter.
Elongation: RNA nucleotides are added to the 3’ end of the new RNA
Termination: RNA polymerase stops transcription when it encounters terminators in the DNA sequence.

47
Q

Important to remember in the transcription process

A

RNA is always a single strand and never a double-stranded helix.

48
Q

Translational unit extends from

A

promoter to terminator

49
Q

Promoter is composed of

A

Upstream of the ATG in the ORF
Contains a TATA box in eukaryotes
Contains a Pribnow box in prokaryotes

50
Q

Commonly used promoters during recombinant gene expression

A

PGK - phosphoglycerate kinase (constitutive promoter)

AOX - alcohol oxidase (inducible promoter)

51
Q

What is the translational unit?

A

The portion of the DNA or exon that gets transcribed to RNA is know as the transcriptional unit.

52
Q

What is the promoter?

A

The promotor is a sequence of DNA that serves as binding site for the RNA polymerase and in eukaryotes always contains a TATA box (repetitive Thymine and adenine sequence). This is where the RNA polymerase binds to the DNA for transcription to commence.

53
Q

Terminator sequence

A

where polymerase detaches from the DNA molecule.

54
Q

Translation

A

RNA to protein.

Requires participation of multiple types of RNA,

55
Q

Three different types of RNA and their functions:

A
  1. Messenger RNA (mRNA) - carries information from DNA that encodes proteins.
  2. Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) - a structural component of the ribosome
  3. Transfer RNA (tRNA) - carries amino acids to the ribosome for translation
56
Q

Translation proceeds through

A

Initiation: mRNA, tRNA, and ribosome come together.
ELongation: mRNA harbors codons and tRNA brings amino acids to the ribosome for incorporation into the polypeptide, harbors anticodons (three exact opposite nucleotides)
Termination: ribosome encounters a stop codon and releases polypeptide.

57
Q

Control of gene expression

A

How certain genes are switched on and others off in response to stimuli from the environment.

58
Q

Control of transcription initiation can be

A

Positive control: induction
-when a metabolic pathway is needed
-enables transcription when activators bind DNA
Negative control: repression
-when a metabolic pathway is NOT needed
-inhibits transcription when repressors bind the DNA

Bioprocess Engineering (6 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions