Nucleic Acids

Question 1

Draw and label the structure of a nucleosome, including the H1 protein, the octamer core proteins, linker DNA and two wraps of DNA

Question 2

Explain the levels of supercoiling (DNA→ nucleosome → beads on a string → 30nm fiber → unreplicated interphase chromosome → replicated metaphase chromosome)

Question 3

Outline the features of DNA structure that suggested a mechanism for DNA replication

Question 4

Compare replication on the the leading strand and the lagging strand of DNA

Question 5

Explain why replication is different on the leading and lagging strands of DNA

Question 6

Outline the formation of Okazaki fragments on the lagging strand

Question 7

Outline the role of the following proteins in DNA replications: helicase, topoisomerase (AKA gyrase), single stranded binding proteins, primase, DNA polymerase III, DNA polymerase I, and DNA ligase

Question 8

Explain the need for RNA primers in DNA replication

Question 9

Explain what is meant by DNA replication occurring in a 5’ to 3’ direction

Question 10

Define “coding sequences” and “repetitive sequences” of DNA

Question 10

Outline five functions of non-coding DNA sequences found in genomes, one of which must be the telomere

Question 11

Outline the process of X-ray diffraction

Question 12

Outline the deductions about DNA structure made from the X-ray diffraction pattern

Question 13

Define VNTR

Question 14

Explain why VNTR are used in DNA profiling

Question 15

Outline the process of DNA sequencing, including the role of chain terminator nucleotides, fluorescence, and electrophoresis

Question 16

State the experimental question being tested in the Hershey and Chase experiment

Question 17

Explain the procedure of the Hershey and Chase experiment

Question 18

Explain how the results of the Hershey and Chase experiment supported the notion of nucleic acids as the genetic material

Question 19

Identify nucleosome structures using molecular visualization software

Question 20

Outline the mechanism of histone-DNA association

Question 21

Describe Rosalind Franklin’s role in the elucidation of the structure of DNA

Question 22

Define “gene expression”

Question 23

State two reasons why gene expression must be regulated

Question 24

Outline the environmental regulation of the breakdown of lactose in E. coli

Question 25

Outline the role of enhancers, silencers and promoter-proximal elements in regulation of gene expression

Question 25

Describe the use of twin studies to measure the impact of environment on gene expression

Question 26

Outline two examples of environmental influence on gene expression

Question 27

Outline the effect of methylation of nucleosome tails on rates of gene expression

Question 28

Outline the effect of acetylation of nucleosome tails on rates of gene expression

Question 29

Describe the initiation of transcription, including the role of the promoter, transcription factors, the TATA box and RNA polymerase

Question 30

Describe elongation of transcription, including the role of nucleotide triphosphates and the direction of transcription

Question 31

Describe termination of transcription, including the role of the terminator

Question 32

List two major differences in gene expression between prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells

Question 33

Describe the three post-transcriptional modifications of pre-mRNA in eukaryotes

Question 34

Describe the process of alternative RNA splicing

Question 35

Outline an example of alternative splicing the results in different protein products

Question 36

Outline the role of promoter DNA

Question 37

State the effect of DNA methylation on gene expression

Question 38

Compare methylation patterns in twins using superimposed images of dyed chromosomes

Question 39

Define “epigenetic” and “epigenome”

Answer 39

Epigenetic:

Epigenome:

Question 40

List types of epigenetic tags

Question 40

Discuss the role of reprogramming and imprinting on epigenetic factors

Question 41

Outline the process of translation initiation

Question 41

Outline the process of translation elongation, including codon recognition, bond formation and translocation

Question 42

State the direction of movement of the ribosome along the mRNA molecule

Question 43

Outline the process of translation termination, including the role of the stop codon

Question 44

State the difference between free and bound ribosomes

Question 45

List destinations of proteins synthesized on free ribosomes

Question 46

List destinations of proteins synthesized on bound ribosomes

Question 47

Outline how a ribosome becomes bound to the endoplasmic reticulum

Question 47

Compare the timing and location of transcription and translation between prokaryotes and eukaryotes

Question 48

Describe the primary structure of a protein, including the type of bonding involved

Question 49

Describe the secondary structure of a protein, including the type of bonding involved

Question 50

Identify the alpha-helix and beta-pleated sheet in images of protein structure

Question 51

Describe the tertiary structure of a protein, including the types of R group interactions involved

Question 52

Explain how the chemical characteristics of R groups in the polypeptide chain affect protein folding

Question 53

Outline the quaternary structure of protein folding

Question 54

Describe the structure of a conjugated protein, including the prosthetic group

Question 55

State the role of the tRNA activating enzymes

Question 56

Outline the process of attaching an amino acid to tRNA by the tRNA activating enzyme

Question 57

Describe the structure of the ribosomes, including the small and large subunits and the names and roles of the tRNA binding sites

Question 58

Use molecular visualization software to view and identify the small and large subunit and tRNA binding sites of the ribosome

Question 59

Outline the structure of tRNA molecules

Question 60

Use molecular visualization software to view and identify the anticodon and amino acid binding site of a tRNA

Question 61

Outline the structure of a polysome

Question 62

Identify the beginning of an mRNA strand in a micrograph of polysomes

Question 63

Define “bioinformatics”

Question 64

Outline why computers are necessary for genome analysis

Question 65

List seven species for which the entire genome has been sequenced