Topic 6 Flashcards
What is base A?
Adenine
What is base T?
Thymine
What is base C?
Cytosine
What is base G?
Guanine
What is a DNA nucleotide made up of?
Deoxyribose sugar, a phosphate and a base
What kind of bonding joins DNA bases?
Hydrogen
What does non-overlapping mean?
Each triplet is read in sequence, separate from those before or after, they don’t share bases
What does degenerate mean?
More possible combinations of triplets than amino acids, so some amino acids are coded for by multiple triplets
How many amino acids are there?
20
Which base is replaced in RNA and what by?
T is replaced by U, Uracil
Differences between DNA and RNA?
- Uracil replaces Thymine
- Ribose not Deoxyribose
- Single stranded not double stranded
Name the sections of DNA that don’t code for amino acids
Introns
Name the sections of DNA that do code for amino acids
Exons
What is the process of removing introns called?
Splicing
How is RNA modified before translation?
Splicing
Where does RNA modification take place?
Inside nucleus
How can more than one protein be formed from a gene?
After splicing, mRNA sections have to rejoin. This can happen in different orders, meaning different amino acid sequences and therefore different proteins
What is a DNA profile?
A genetic fingerprint
How is a DNA profile made?
1) A DNA sample is obtained
2) PCR is used to amplify the DNA
3) A fluorescent tag is added
4) Gel electrophoresis is used to separate DNA
5) Gel viewed under UV light
What is PCR?
Polymerase chain reaction
What happens in PCR?
1) Reaction mixture set up with DNA sample, free nucleotides, primers and DNA polymerase
2) Mixture heated to 95C
3) Mixture cooled to between 50 and 65C
4) Mixture heated to 72*C
5) DNA Polymerase lines up free nucleotides alongside each template strand, forming new complementary strands
6) Two new copies of fragment of DNA formed
7) Cycle starts again
How much does the amount of DNA increase by for each cycle of PCR?
Doubles
What are primers?
Short pieces of DNA that are complementary to the bases at the start of the fragment you want
What is DNA polymerase?
Enzyme that creates new DNA strands
Why is PCR mixture heated to 95*C?
To break the hydrogen bonds between the two strands of DNA
Why is the PCR mixture cooled to 50-65*C?
So that primers can bind (anneal) to the strands
Why is PCR mixture heated to 72*C?
So DNA polymerase can work
How does gel electrophoresis work?
- DNA inserted into well in slab of gel and covered in conductive buffer solution
- Electrical current passed through gel, negatively charged DNA fragments move towards positive electrode
- Shorter fragments move faster and travel further through the gel in a set time, thereby separating fragments according to length
How can time of death be determined?
Body temperature Degree of muscle contraction Forensic entomology Extent of decomposition Stage of succession
How is TOD determined by body temperature?
After death, body temperature falls from 37*C to the temperature of the surroundings
What rate do bodies cool at?
1.5 to 2*C per hour
What affects cooling rate of a body?
Air temperature, clothing, body weight
How is TOD determined by muscle contraction?
Riger mortis starts 4-6 hours after death and it takes different length of time for different muscles to contract
What happens in riger mortis?
- Begins when muscle cells deprived of oxygen
- Anaerobic respiration still takes place, lactic acid builds up
- pH decreases, inhibiting enzymes that produce ATP
- No ATP means bonds between myosin and actin become fixed and the body stiffens
How is TOD determined by forensic entomology?
Different insects at different times, different stages of lifecycle
What is forensic entomology?
Study of the insects that colonise a dead body
What conditions will affect the lifecycle of an insect?
Drugs, humidity, oxygen, temperature
How is TOD determined by extent of decomposition?
- Immediately after death bacteria and enzymes begin to decompose body
- Hours to few days - cells and tissues being broken down, skin turns greenish
- Few days to few weeks - decomposition produces gases which bloat body, skin begins to blister and fall off
- Few weeks - tissues begin to liquify and seep out
- Few months to a few years - only skeleton remains
- Decades to centuries - Skeleton begins to disintegrate
What conditions affect rate of decomposition?
Temperature and oxygen availability
How is TOD determined by stage of succession?
*Types of organism on body change over time
*Bacteria -> Flies and larvae -> Beetles -> Nothing
Affected by ability of insects to get to body