Unit 5 - DNA and Protein Synthesis Flashcards
anti-parallel
two complementary strands of a DNA double helix, which run in opposite directions to one another
Biotechnology
the exploitation of biological process for industrial and other purpose
cAMP
a cyclic form of adenosine monophosphate that serves as a second messenger for signal transduction at the cellular level
Chromosome
a structure within the cell that holds the genetic material as a threadlike linear strand of DNA bonded to various proteins
anticodon
a sequence of three nucleotides forming a genetic code in a transfer RNA molecule
Cloning
replication so that there is enough to analyze or use in protein production.
codon
a set of three nucleotides
corepressor
an effector molecule which can bind to a repressor molecule.
DNA
a nucleic acid that consists of two long chains of nucleotides twisted together into a double helix.
DNA Methylation
the modification of a DNA base by the addition of a methyl group
What is produced in semi-conservative replication?
Semiconservative replication produces two new strands of DNA. Each DNA molecule would contain one new strand and one old strand
What happens when silent mutations occur?
In silent mutations, bases are subsituted, but because of wobble, there is no change in the proteins that are produced.
Explain the role of a spliceosome.
Splicesomes remove the noncoding regions of the mRNA called interons or intervening sequences.
What do start codons do? What is/are the start codons?
Start codons basically “start” translation in the ribosomes; in order for translation to occur, there must be a start codon. The start codon is the first codon of an mRNA strand. The most common start codon is AUG which also codes for methionine.
What are stop codons? What do they do? What is/are the stop codons?
Stop codons are termination signals for translation. Stop codons include UAA, UGA, and UAG.
What is a sticky end?
A sticky end is a fragment of DNA (produced by staggering cut on the DNA using restriction enzymes) containing a certain sequence of nitrogenous bases.
When does genetic transformation occur?
Genetic transformation occurs when a host organisms takes up foreign DNA and then expresses that foreign gene.
What kind of organism does transgenic describe?
Transgenic describes an organism that has had genes from another organism put into its genome through recombinant DNA techniques.
What is the role of tRNA? What is its structure?
tRNA brings amino acids from the cytoplasm to the ribosome during translation. tRNA has a binding site for an amino acid at one end and another binding site for an anticodon sequence that binds to mRNA at the other.
Define transcription
Transcription is the process by which the information in the DNA sequence is copied (transcribed) into a complementary RNA sequence. Define transcription
Define translation
Translation is the process by which the codons of an mRNA sequence are changed into an amino acid sequence.
What is the role of telomeres? How are they created and maintained?
Telomeres are protective ends that protect against the possible loss of genes at ends of chromosomes. Normal body cells contain little telomerse, so everytime the DNA replicates, the telomeres get shorter; this may serve as a clock that counts cell divisions and causes the cell to stop dividing as it ages. Telomeres are created and maintained by telomerase.
What to topoisomerases do?
Topoisomerases lessen the tension on the tightly wound DNA helix by breaking, swiveling, and rejoining DNA strands.
What is binary fission? What is the result?
Binary fission is the asexual mode of reproduction in bacteria. Binary fission results in a population with all identical genes, but mutations so occur spontaneously
What does the term wobble mean?
Wobble refers to the relaxation of base pairing rules. This means that the 3rd base of a codon is not as strict as the first 2 bases. For example, UCU, UCC, UCA, and UCG all code for the amino acid serine.
Why are micropipettes needed when doing experiments?
a micropipette is a good instrument to use for measuring, transferring, or injecting very small quantities of liquid
Why are micropipettes needed when doing experiments?
A micropipette is a good instrument to use for measuring, transferring, or injecting very small quantities of liquid.
Why does bacteria create colonies?
A colony is millions of bacteria that are produced when bacteria divides.
How are the nucleotides for DNA different than RNA?
DNA consists of adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine. RNA consists of adenine, cytosine, guanine, and uracil.
What is a petri dish?
A petri dish is used to culture bacteria and other microorganisms.
Why is bacteria used for transformation?
Bacteria is easy to grow in large numbers and does not take a lot of time to replicate.
What does DNA polymerase do?
DNA polymerase are enzymes that read the DNA strand and assemble nucleotides to make copies of the DNA.
How does DNA replicate?
DNA stand is unwound by a helicase enzyme then acts as a template strand for DNA polymerase to come and make a copy. DNA is read in the direction of 3->5 and is built in a direction of 5->3. The replications are exact replicas unless
What is the function of a TATA Box?
The TATA Box acts as a marker for where RNA should bind to DNA during transcription.
How does a lac operon react in the absence of lactose?
Without lactose a repressor binds to the operator and keeps RNA polymerase from transcribing.
How does a trp operon react in the absence of tryptophan?
The genes are transcribed and a repressor cannot bind to the operator.
What type of bonds form between the amino acids brought to ribosomes?
Peptide bonds link together amino acids into protein chains in ribosomes.
How does DNA replicate?
DNA stand is unzipped by a helicase enzyme then acts as a template strand for DNA polymerase to come and make a copy. DNA is read in the direction of 3->5 and is built in a direction of 5->3. The replications are exact replicas unless if there is a mutation and a base changes