Unit 8: DNA at Work

Question 0

What are the three types of RNA? What are their roles?

Answer 0

1. mRNA: carries copies of the instructions for assembling amino acids from DNA to the rest of the cell
2. rRNA: subunits that make up RNA
3. tRNA: transfers each amino acid to the ribosome to help assemble proteins

Question 1

What are the differences between DNA and RNA?

Answer 1

1. The sugar in RNA is ribose instead of deoxyribose.
2. RNA is single stranded.
3. RNA contains uracil in place of thymine.

Question 2

Why is the DNA code so important?

Answer 2

Because it defines every single aspect of a person. If it were to be destroyed, the traits for a person wouldn’t be specified.

Question 3

What’re the two steps of protein synthesis?

Answer 3

Transcription & translation

Question 4

Describe what is happening in transcription and where it occurs.

Answer 4

mRNA is made from DNA, mRNA travels with message for building a protein
- happens in the nucleus

Question 5

Describe what is happening in translation and where it occurs.

Answer 5

tRNA builds protein

- happens in cytoplasm

Question 6

What is a codon? What is an anticodon?

Answer 6

1 codon = 3 mRNA bases

1 anticodon = 3 tRNA bases

Question 7

What is a mutation?

Answer 7

A change in the base sequence

Question 8

Are all mutations harmful? Explain.

Answer 8

Not all mutations are harmful because some could benefit the animal or cause no changes at all.

Question 9

What happens to the amino acid sequence when a gene is changed?

Answer 9

The amino acid sequence and the protein is changed.

Question 10

What effect does a mutation have on a protein?

Answer 10

It could affect its structure, resulting in a change in the protein’s function.

Question 11

What’re some examples of mutations? Explain what is happening?

Answer 11

1. Point mutations: bases are mismatched
2. Frameshift mutations: bases are added or deleted
3. Inversion: bases are inversed

Question 12

What is happening in karyotypes? What is the significance?

Answer 12

What’s happening: pictures of a person’s chromosomes.

Significance: ability to show genetic abnormalities and gender.

Question 13

What’s happening during genetic engineering? What is the significance?

Answer 13

What’s happening: cutting DNA from an organism into small fragments, and inserting fragments into another organism of the same or different species (Recombinant DNA)
Significance: Corrects genetic disorders

Question 14

What is happening during cloning? What is the significance?

Answer 14

What’s happening: creation of genetically identical DNA, cells, or organisms
Significance: a new organism, cell, or DNA is created.

Question 15

What is happening during gene therapy? What is the significance?

Answer 15

What’s happening: the insertion of normal genes into human cells
Significance: corrects genetic disorders

Question 16

What is happening during DNA fingerprinting? What is the significance?

Answer 16

What’s happening: restriction enzymes cut DNA to be analyzed and manipulated.
Significance: it compares DNA fragments from a known sample to those from suspects