Molecular Genetics Workshop Flashcards
Why is DNA replication semi-conservative?
because half of the original DNA molecule is incorporated into each daughter strand.
What are the steps to DNA replication?
- DNA helix is unwond by helicase where the H bonds are broken.
- DNA polymerasesynthesizes new strands complimentary to the original parental strands in the 5’ to 3’ direction beginning at the origin of replication.
- replication fork is formed
- The leading strand is synthesized continuously using one RNA primer.
- The lagging strand is synthesized discontinuously using a RNA primer for every Okazaki fragment.
What is transcription?
Theprocess by which information stored in the bases of DNA is copied into RNA.
What are the steps for transcription?
- RNA polymerase binds to the TATA box in the promoter region of the DNA template strand.
- Only one strand of the DNA is used for a given gene.
- Nucleotides are added in a 5’ to 3’ direction
- Heterogeneous nuclear RNA (hnRNA) is formed
- The introns are cleaved out and the exons spliced together to form the mRNA
- The 5’ end of the mRNA is capped
- The 3’ poly A tail is added
- The finished mRNA product leaves the nucleus through nuclear pores.
What is translation?
Translation is the synthesis of an amino acid chain using mRNA as a template.
What are the steps of translation?
- Occurs in the cytoplasm and requires energy (GTP)
- mRNA bind to a ribosome, Translation begins when the ribosome encounters a start codon.
- tRNA delivers amino acids to the ribosomes.
- the tRNA/ amino acid complex temporarily binds the mRNA codon.
- An enzyme (peptidyl transferase) fogers a peptide bond between adjacent amino acids.
- Pretein synthesis stops when a stop codon is reached.
- Post-translational modifications occur to the protein product.
what are the three main classes of small scale mutations?
- Base substitution
- Deletions
- Insertions
Describe base substitution
one base pair is substituted for another.
Transition- substitution of a pyrimidine (C or T) by another pyrimidine, or of a purine(A or G) by another purine.
Transversion- substitution of a pyrimidine by a purine or of a purine by a pyrimidine.
Describe deletions
One or more nucleotides are lost from a sequence
Describe insertions
One or more nucleotides are added to a sequence.
This can include transposition- a sequence is inserted at an incorrect location in the DNA.
What is direct repair
reverses DNA damage without cutting the deoxyribose phosphate backbone
what is base excision repair (BER)
used when incorrect bases are present in the DNA. The damaged base is recognized by a glycosylase and is hydrolytically removed from the deoxyribose phosphate backbone. The leaves an apurinic or apyrimidic site where the purine or pyrimidine was removed. The correct base is then inserted and the break is sealed by DNA ligase.
what is Mismatch repairs
method similar to BER to remedy correct pairings of the normal bases.
what is nucleotide excision repair (NER)
removes thymine dimer and bulky adducts. The are of DNA surrounding and including the damaged portion is unwond and an endonuclease makes cuts on both the 5’ and 3’ side of the damage. The bases are removed by an exonuclease and DNA is resynthesized, using the sister strand as a template to fill the gap. DNA ligase seals the new section into the backbone.
what is post-replication repair
used to repair double strand breaks. This involves a type of recombinational repair in which a single strand of DNA from a homologous chromosomes is used to resynthesize the missing portion. Broken ends can also be rejoined directly and ligated together. However, the original sequence is not always maintained and mutations such as translocations can often occur as a result of this.
what is a nucleosome
most basic unit. consst of 8 histone proteins. DNA is wound almost two times around this protein core to produce a “bead-like” structure.
what are the guidelines for cross-over
- it occurs randomly along the entire chromosome.
- Two genes close together on the chromosome have a low chance of cross-over (the genes are said to be linked).
- The further apart two genes are on a chromosome, the greater the chance of these genes crossing-over.
what are the events that occur during recombination?
- Homologous pair line up.
- An endonuclease nicks a single strand of DNA on each homolog at the same place.
- The homologs exchange strands and are ligated together forming the Holliday structure.
- Branching migration occur,incorporating a portion of the opposite strand into each molecule.
- Cleavage occurs: if the same strands are cleaved the original chromosomes are reformed. If the opposite strands are cleaved then recombinant chromosomes results.
constitutional chromosomal abnormalities
the abnormality is found in all cells of the body.
Somatic chromosomal abnormalities
the abnormality if found only in certain cells or tissues.
Numerical chromosomal abnormalities
The gain or loss of complete chromosomes