Unit 8 - Control of Gene Expression

Question 1

Mutation

Answer 1

Any change to one or more nucleotide bases or any rearrangement of bases in DNA.
Occur spontaneously due to external mutagens.

Question 2

Types of mutation that can occur

Answer 2

Addition, deletion, substitution, inversion, duplication and translocation.

Question 3

Types of mutation (overall effect on DNA)

Answer 3

Silent
Termination
Frameshift

Question 4

Transcription factor

Answer 4

Protein molecule that binds to a promoter and turns on gene expression.

Question 5

Promoter

Answer 5

Short region of DNA upstream from a gene, which the transcription factor binds to.

Question 6

Proteome

Answer 6

All the proteins produced by the genome

Question 7

Genome

Answer 7

All the genetic material in an organism

Question 8

Recombinant DNA technology

Answer 8

Involves the transfer of fragments of DNA from one organism (or species) to another.

Question 9

Palindrome

Answer 9

Two sequences being opposite to one another

Question 10

Transformation

Answer 10

The reintroduction of the new plasmid into bacterial cells.

Involves mixing plasmids and bacterial cells together in a Ca2+ rich medium.

Question 11

Vector

Answer 11

Transfers genes from one organisms into another

Question 12

Gene marker

Answer 12

Way of identifying which cells have taken up the plasmid with the desired gene

Question 13

Primers

Answer 13

Short nucleotide sequences that have a set of bases complementary to those at one end of each of the two DNA fragments

Question 14

Translocation of bases

Answer 14

A portion of DNA becomes separated and reinserted itself into another chromosome

Question 15

Mutagenic agents

Answer 15

High energy ionising radiation, chemicals and other things may cause mutations within DNA

Question 16

Totipotency

Answer 16

Can differentiate into any type of cell

Question 17

Pluripotency

Answer 17

Can differentiate into almost any type of cell

Question 18

Multipotency

Answer 18

Can differentiate into a limited number of cells

Question 19

Unipotency

Answer 19

Can differentiate into only one type of cell

Question 20

Oestrogen

Answer 20

A hormone which activates transcription when it isn’t meant to occur.
Bonds to receptor that changes transcription factors shape.

Question 21

Epigenetics

Answer 21

Looks at how the environment affects the expression of genes within organisms

Question 22

Acetylation

Answer 22

Attachment of acetyl tags to the histones which unwind and become more loosely associated with the DNA leading to the switching on of genes

Question 23

Methylation

Answer 23

Attachment of methyl tags to be cytosine bases leading to a stronger association between histones and DNA leading to the switching off of genes.

Question 24

Oncogenes

Answer 24

Mutated version of proto-oncogene. Leads to uncontrolled cell division

Question 25

Tumour suppressor genes

Answer 25

Gene in charge of suppressing rumour growth in cells

Question 26

Restriction endonuclease

Answer 26

Enzyme used to chop up DNA leaving either blunt or sticky ends

Question 27

Reverse transcriptase

Answer 27

Enzyme used to make DNA from RNA strands. Important in development of insulin producing DNA from DNA templates

Question 28

Palindrome

Answer 28

When sticky ends are produced, the same enzyme is used creating complimentary ends known as a palindrome

Question 29

Vector

Answer 29

Thing in which DNA is transported into a cell having been developed

Question 30

Promoter

Answer 30

Portion of genetic material upstream of a coding sequence to which the transcriptional factor attaches

Question 31

RISC

Answer 31

Enzyme guided by siRNA strand to the target mRNA and cuts it into smaller pieces

Question 32

DICER

Answer 32

Initially cuts up double stranded RNA into siRNA

Question 33

siRNA

Answer 33

Small portions of mRNA that guide the RISC enzyme to its complimentary portion of target mRNA

Question 34

Marker genes

Answer 34

Genes used to highlight whether an artificially inserted gene has been successfully incorporated into a genome of an organism

Question 35

Polymerase chain reaction

Answer 35

Process by which DNA can be copied in a machine using varying temperatures

Question 36

DNA hybridisation

Answer 36

When DNA or DNA is heated hip causing separation of strands which when cooled will join with whichever complimentary base sequence they contact first

Question 37

Genetic screening

Answer 37

Ability to search within an organisms DNA for a specific allele

Question 38

Gel electrophoresis

Answer 38

Technique used to split up DNA fragments for analysis and comparison to other DNA samples

Question 39

Genetic counselling

Answer 39

Where advice and information is given to couples in order to make informed decisions about their offspring

Question 40

Vntrs

Answer 40

Variable number tandem repeats are portion of non coding bases of DNA. 95% of the human genome is introns