topic 4 (genetics ,biodiversity,classification) Flashcards
what is a gene?
A section of DNA that codes for amino acids in polypeptides and functional RNA . these polypeptides make up proteins/enzymes.Genes are located in the locus.
what is the minimum amount of bases that code for an amino acid?
3 as their are minimum amount of 20 amino acids.4 squared is 16 which is insufficient
what is a triplet?
3 nucleotide
what is degernate code?
when the amino acid can be coded by more than 1 triplet.this is beacause a total of 4^3=64 amino acids but the genome only codes for 20 amino acids
explain why degenerate code is an advantage?
if their is a point mutation (mutation of one base) the triplet is still likely to code the same amino acid
what is non overlapping?
Each base is only read once in its triplet.
advantage of non overlapping DNA?
If their is a mutation it will only affect the codon and one amino acid
what does universal code mean?
triplets code for the same amino acid in all organims and this is evidence and this is evidence for evolution
explain how a change in one base may result in an enzyme be non functional?
a change in amino acid will affect the primary structure.This will then all affect the tiertary structure.A change in the tiertary structure can affect the active site of the enzyme.A change in the active site will mean it wont bind to the complementary substrate.Thus the enzyme substrate complex not being made.
what are coding and non coding coding sequence?
coding genes -exons
non coding genes-introns
the difference between DNA in eukaryotes and prokaryotes?
DNA is linear and larger in Eukaryotes.it is also associated with histones to make chromosomes
the chloroplast and mitochondria have their own DNA but it is like prokaryotic
DNA is circular and shorter in prokaryotes
what is an allele?
The different forms of a gene
each individual inherits one allele from each parent.
A change in the base sequence (mutation) will produce a completely new gene
what is a chromatid?
When DNA first replicated in mitosis it produces a two strand structure.Each thread is a chromatid
what is a homologous pair?
A pair of chromosomes one maternal one paternal that have the same gene loci
e.g a homologous pair can contain the gene tongue rolling but one allele may be non roller and the other one roller allowing only the dominant one to be expressed
what is a haploid and diploid?
haploid-half the set of chromosomes
diploid - full set of chromosomes
what is the genome?
the complete set of genes in a cell
what is a proteome?
the complete set of proteins produced by the genome
what is the structure of RNA
It is made up of a pentose sugar called ribose
A nucleotide base (Adenine ,Guanine ,Cytosine,Uracil)
Phosphate group
it is single stranded
explain the use of trna in protein synthesis?
it is a single stranded and clover shaped.One side is the attachment point which attaches to amino acids.The other attached to the codons of the mrna.The trna has the anticodon that is made from complimentary bases
each trna is specific to one amino acid and has the anticodon for it
explain the use of mrna in protein synthesis?
Mrna is produced via transcription.It then moves out the nucleus envelope via the nuclear pores.In the cytoplasm it associates with ribosomes. It is perfect as it stores the bases in codons which are complimentary to the triplet in DNA and these can be used in protein synthesis
the similarities and difference between mrna and trna
trna is clover shaped,mrna is straight single helix chain
mrna is large, trna is small
both contain ribose
both have the same bases (Adeine ,guanine,cytosine,uracil)
what is transcription?
the process of making pre-mrna using dna as a template
describe transcription?
DNA helicase breaks the hydrogen bonds between nucleotide base in DNA exposing the nucleotide
One strand acts as the complimentary strand
RNA polymerase joins nucleotide complimentary to the template strand from the nucleus pool.This forms the pre MRNA single strand.
This continues until the RNA polymerase reaches the stop triplet code.
the DNA code rebinds
what is splicing?
removing non coding triplets (introns) as these prevent the production of polypeptides allowing the exons to line up. Done via the protein splicosome.
This is mainly in eukaryotes as prokaryotes dont have introns
what are histones?
proteins that provide structural support to chromosomes
why is splicing necessary?
splicing removes introns which are non coding in the pre mrna. If left in these will lead to the production of non functional polypeptides
describe the process of translation (protein synthesis)
Mrna attaches to the ribosome at the start codon
Trna has the complimentary anticodon it brings the amino acid specific to this . It works in twos
the 2 amino acids are peptide bonded requiring enzyme and ATP .
this process continues until the stop codon which does not have an amino acid allowing the ribosome to deattach breaking the peptide chain
why cant DNA exit the nucleus instead of mrna?
DNA is too big to leave the nucleus. There are also harmful enzymes in the cytoplasm which could damage enzyme
what is a gamete?
sex cell e.g female egg cell,male sperm cell
what is a mutation?
A change to a nucleotides base/bases in DNA
when is a mutation likely to occur?
Formation of gametes
DNA replication
describe substitution mutation and explain its effect
In the DNA one of its nucleotides is swapped for another. This can cause the production of the wrong amino acid effecting the tiertary structure og the polypeptide required.It can make the protein disfunctional.
However due to DNA being degenerate their is a chance of the same amino acid being produced
describe deletion mutation and explain its effect?
This is a deletion of a nucleotide from the DNA. As DNA is read in triplets it causes all the other nucleotides to shift the left changing every single base after.This has a bigger effect than subsitution and DNA is less likely to produce the correct functional polypeptide