Topic 4A - DNA, RNA and Protein Synthesis Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a gene?

A

A sequence of DNA bases that coded for either a polypeptide or functional RNA

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2
Q

What is a cell’s genome?

A

The complete set of genes in a cell

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3
Q

How many DNA bases code for one amino acid?

A

3

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4
Q

What is a cell’s proteome?

A

The full range of proteins the cell can produce

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5
Q

Name 2 types of non-coding DNA

A

Introns and multiple repeats

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6
Q

Name the sections within genes that code for amino acids

A

Exons

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7
Q

What is an allele?

A

A different form of a gene

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8
Q

Alleles for the same characteristic can be found at a particular fixed point on a chromosome. What is the name given to this fixed point?

A

A locus

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9
Q

What role does mRNA play in protein synthesis?

A

Carries the genetic code from the DNA to the ribosomes

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10
Q

What is an mRNA codon?

A

A group of 3 adjacent bases on an mRNA molecule

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11
Q

what does mRNA stand for?

A

Messenger RNA

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12
Q

What does tRNA stand for?

A

Transfer RNA

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13
Q

Name two stages of protein synthesis and state where each one takes place in eukaryotes

A

Transcription - takes place in the nucleus

Translation - takes place at the ribosomes in the cytoplasm

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14
Q

What is RNA polymerase and in which stage of protein synthesis is it involved?

A

An enzyme, transcription

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15
Q

Why is the mRNA that’s produced from a DNA template always a complementary copy of the DNA?

A

Because of complementary base parings

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16
Q

Explain why eukaryotic mRNA gets spliced

A

Eukaryotic DNA contains introns that don’t code for amino acids. These get transcribed into pre-mRNA along with the exons. Splicing removes the introns from pre-mRNA and joins together the expand to create mRNA ready for translation into a protein.

17
Q

Why does prokaryotic mRNA not undergo splicing?

A

It doesn’t contains introns

18
Q

What is a mis-sense mutation?

A

A base change results in a different amino acid being coded for; the significance depends on the importance of the original amino acid

19
Q

What is a non-sense mutation?

A

A base change results in a stop codon, signalling the end of the polypeptide chain. This causes a significant difference from the original chain and it will not perform normally

20
Q

What is a silent mutation?

A

A base change results in the same amino acid being coded for, due to degenerate nature of the DNA code. No change in polypeptide chain so no effect

21
Q

What is a deletion mutation?

A

A base is completely deleted. This causes a “frame shift” - this completely changes the set of amino acids

22
Q

Describe the function of tRNA

A

Carry amino acids to the ribosome during translation