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What is gene expression?
the process by which DNA directs protein synthesis, includes two stages: transcription and translation
Where is the site of translation?
The ribosome
How many nucleotides correspond to an amino
acid?
3
During translation, the mRNA base triplets, called
____, are read in the 5′ → 3′ direction.
Codons
What does redundant mean in DNA expression?
that more than one codon may specify a
particular amino acid
True or False: The relationship between proteins and DNA was first discovered through studies of enzymes.
True
What is transcription?
synthesis of RNA using information
in DNA; produces messenger RNA (mRNA)
What is translation?
synthesis of a polypeptide, using
information in the mRNA
A chain of amino acids creates a ____.
Polypeptide chain
What is the Non template DNA strand called?
The coding strand
What is the initial RNA transcript from any gene prior to processing?
A primary transcript
What is the central dogma?
The central dogma is the concept that cells are
governed by a cellular chain of command:
DNA → RNA → protein
The flow of information from gene to protein is
based on a ____.
Triplet Code
Which DNA strand provides the sequence for the RNA?
The template strand
True or False: Genes cannot be transcribed and translated after being transplanted from one species to another.
False
How are the instructions for assembling amino
acids into proteins encoded into DNA?
There are 20 amino acids, but there are only four
nucleotide bases in DNA, each one creating a special combination to create amino acids
RNA synthesis is catalyzed by which enzyme?
RNA polymerase
What are the three stages of transcription?
– Initiation
– Elongation
– Termination
What is the TATA box?
A promoter crucial in forming the initiation complex in eukaryotes.
Flexible pairing at the third base of a codon is
called ___.
Wobble
What is the sequence
of DNA where the RNA
polymerase attaches?
The DNA sequence
where RNA polymerase
attaches is called the
promoter
The stretch of DNA that
is transcribed is called what?
transcription unit
What helps guide the binding of RNA polymerase?
Transcription Factors
Some genes can encode more than one kind of
polypeptide, depending on which segments are
treated as exons during splicing. What is this called?
alternative RNA splicing
What is the purpose of the A site?
The A site holds the tRNA that carries the next amino acid to be added to the chain.