[🧫] Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis Flashcards

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1
Q

Define

gene mutation

A

a change in one or more nucleotide bases in DNA that could result in a change in genotype which may be inherited

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2
Q

Define

autosome

A

a chromosome that is not a sex chromosome

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3
Q

Define

homologous chromosomes

A

a pair of chromosomes, one maternal and the other paternal, that have the same gene loci and therefore determine the same features.

they are not necessarily identical; they may have different alleles; they are capable of pairing during meiosis

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4
Q

Define

codon

A

a sequence of three adjacent nucleotides in mRNA that codes for one amino acid

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5
Q

Define

anti-codon

A

a sequence of three adjacent nucleotides in tRNA that is complementary to a particular codon on mRNA

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6
Q

Define

chromosome

A

a thread-like structure made up of histone proteins and DNA by which hereditary information is physically passed from generation to generation

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7
Q

Define

alleles

A

alternative forms of a gene with different base sequences, and therefore different codes

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8
Q

Define

diploid

A

a cell or nucleus containing pairs of homologous chromosomes

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9
Q

Define

haploid

A

a cell or nucleus containing single, unpaired chromosomes

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10
Q

Define

nucleotides

A

complex chemicals made up of an organic base, a sugar and a phosphate group; the basic units of which DNA and RNA are made up of

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11
Q

Define

DNA helicase

A
  • enzyme
  • break H-bonds between bases, separating the two nucleotide strands to expose the bases in DNA replication and protein transcription
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12
Q

Define

RNA polymerase

A
  • enzyme
  • joins RNA nucleotides together to form mRNA during transcription
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13
Q

Define

transcription

1st stage of protein synthesis

A

the formation of mRNA molecules from the DNA that makes up a particular gene

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14
Q

Define

gene

A

a sequence of nucleotides that forms part of a DNA molecule

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15
Q

The importance of hydrogen bonding between the two strands of DNA in DNA replication

Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis

A
  • there are many hydrogen bonds between the two strands, ensuring that the strands are not easily separated and are long-lasting
  • hydrogen bonds are weak enough to be broken easily so that strands can be separated during DNA replication
  • hydrogen bonds only form between complementary bases so there is faithful replication
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16
Q

Significance of DNA being very stable

Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis

A
  • the DNA sequence will not spontaneously change so the proteins and DNA copies produced from DNA will always be functional
  • maintains all genetic information to be passed on to daughter cells
17
Q

Significance of mRNA being highly labile (unstable)

Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis

A
  • protein synthesis will stop when mRNA is broken down
  • nucleotides can be reused for other mRNA
18
Q

When does DNA transcription take place?

Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis

A

throughout Interphase

19
Q

When does DNA replication take place?

A

late Interphase / S-phase

20
Q

Role of ribosome in translation

Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis

A
  • attached 2 codons to itself at a time
  • catalyses the formation of peptide bonds
  • moves along the mRNA one codon at a time
  • site of attachment of mRNA to anti-codons of tRNA