Theme 1A DNA intro

Question 1

What is molecular genetics?

Answer 1

Study of heredity and variation in cells, individuals and populations.
Structure and function of genes at a molecular level.

Question 2

What is a gene?

Answer 2

functional unit of heredity and variation. Involved in making RNA and protein.

Question 3

What is an allele?

Answer 3

Variant forms of a gene caused by difference in DNA sequences. Allows for different traits.

Question 4

Define genotype

Answer 4

genes inherited by an organism

Question 5

Define phenotype

Answer 5

Visible traits due to gene expression. (includes behaviour)

Question 6

Define genome

Answer 6

Entire DNA sequence of an organism

Question 7

What is gene expression?

Answer 7

Turning on a gene to produce RNA and protein.

Question 8

Difference between coding and non-coding RNA?

Answer 8

coding: makes proteins

non-coding: doesn’t make proteins

Question 9

What determines phenotype?

Answer 9

Proteins, DNA are indirect determinants as they direct protein expression.

Question 10

How do alleles create phenotypic variation?

Answer 10

Alleles create difference in the DNA sequence that result in different traits/phenotype.

Question 11

What are Darwin’s four postulates?

Answer 11

1. Individuals vary in populations.
2. More offspring is produced that can survive/reproduce.
3. Survival and reproduction is not random.
4. Variation is passed on to offspring (heritability).

Question 12

What is adaptive radiation?

Answer 12

Diversification of a species due to different type of environments.

Question 13

How are complex phenotypes created?

Answer 13

With numerous alleles, multiple gene interactions.

Question 14

List the benefits of understand human genome.

Answer 14

1. Human health (better understanding of diseases)
2. Forensics
3. Agriculture
4. Environment
5. Environmental biology