The Molecular Basis of Heredity, Variation, and Evolution

Question 1

transcription

Answer 1

the cellular process that synthesizes RNA strands from a DNA template strand

Question 2

allele

Answer 2

an alternative form of a gene

Question 3

central dogma of (molecular) biology

Answer 3

the description of the functional relationship between DNA, RNA, and proteins
- DNA -> RNA -> Protein

Question 4

translation

Answer 4

the process taking place at ribosomes to synthesize polypeptides

Question 5

DNA replication

Answer 5

the synthesis of new DNA strands by complementary base pairing of nucleotides in a daughter strand to those in a template strand

Question 6

gene

Answer 6

physical unit of heredity, composed of a DNA sequence that is transcribed and encodes a polypeptide or another functional molecule

Question 7

chromosome

Answer 7

a structure composed of DNA and associated proteins that in total contain the genome of an organism

Question 8

antiparallel

Answer 8

opposite 5’ and 3’ orientations of two complementary nucleic strands

Question 9

complementary base pair

Answer 9

the specific pattern of purine-pyrimidine pairing of nucleic acid strands
- DNA: G -> C, A -> T
- RNA: G -> C, A -> U

Question 10

nucleic acid strand polarity

Answer 10

the orientation of a nucleic acid strand indicating its 5’ phosphate and 3’ hydroxyl ends

Question 11

natural selection

Answer 11

the differential survival and reproduction of members of a population owing to possession of favored traits

Question 12

mutation

Answer 12

the slow acquisition of inherited variation that increases the diversity of populations