Unit 10: Mutations and cancer Flashcards

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1
Q

the central dogma of biology

A

DNA is transcribed into RNA which is translated into protein

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2
Q

Transcription

A

A process in which RNA polymerase copies a gene and builds mRNA
Happens inside the nucleus.

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3
Q

Translation

A

A process in which the ribosome uses the mRNA to build a protein.
Takes place in the cytoplasm.

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4
Q

Gene

A

a piece of DNA which codes for a protein

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5
Q

Codon

A

three mRNA bases

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6
Q

Anticodon

A

three tRNA bases which will pair with the codon

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7
Q

mRNA

A

an RNA copy of a gene
built in the nucleus, translated in the cytoplasm
“messenger” RNA because it carries information

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8
Q

tRNA

A

a folded RNA molecule which carries an amino acid
The ribosome checks to see if the mRNA codon matches the tRNA anticodon; if so, the tRNA’s amino acid is moved onto the chain.
“transfer” RNA because it carries the amino acid.

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9
Q

Ribosome

A

A cellular structure which “reads” the mRNA and builds the protein (or amino acid sequence).

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10
Q

RNA

A

a nucleic acid
made of nucleotides
Uses U not T

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11
Q

Amino Acid

A

the subunit of a protein

carried by the tRNA

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12
Q

Template Strand

A

the strand of DNA which is used to build the mRNA

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13
Q

Mutation

A

a change in the DNA

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14
Q

Mutant

A

an organism which has been changed because of DNA mutations

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15
Q

Mutagen

A

anything that causes mutations

Ex: UV radiation, X rays, gamma rays, smoke, pollutants

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16
Q

Point Mutation

A

a change in only one place in the DNA, causing only one amino acid to be affected.

17
Q

Silent Mutation

A

A mutation which does not change the amino acid sequence

18
Q

Frameshift Mutation

A

a deletion or insertion

changes the ribosome’s reading frame, causing a new series of triplets. Tends to produce a nonfunctional protein.

19
Q

Stop Codon

A

three mRNA bases which signal the ribosome to stop translation. Early stop codons cause proteins to be only partially built and probably useless.

20
Q

Cancer

A

uncontrolled cell division, causing tumors

Caused by mutations in the DNA which give the cell abilities it wouldn’t normally have.

21
Q

Tumor Suppressor Proteins

A

proteins which stop the cell from dividing if the cell’s DNA has too many mutations.
If these proteins do not function correctly, the person is much more likely to get cancer.

22
Q

Tumor Suppressor Genes

A

the genes which code for tumor suppressor proteins.

Mutations to these genes mean the person is much more likely to get cancer.

23
Q

Which is more common, cancer from a gene that was inherited, cancer from pollution, or cancer from a person’s lifestyle?

A

Lifestyle. You can choose to live healthily and avoid most types of cancer. Smoking causes 87% of lung cancer deaths!

24
Q

How are HELA cells (from Henrietta’s cancer) used today?

A

For laboratory research. They are very common worldwide because they were the 1st human cells that successfully replicated and survived outside of a person’s body.

25
Q

If an mRNA strand is 33 bases long, how long will the protein be?

A

11 amino acids

26
Q

If a protein is 30 amino acids long, how long was the mRNA?

A

90 bases

27
Q

Put these in order from smallest to biggest: chromosome, genome, mRNA, anticodon, point mutation

A

point mutation, codon, mRNA, chromosome, genome