DNA & Genes
This double-stranded molecule is the genetic material that determines traits in organisms.
What is DNA?
The building blocks of proteins.
What are amino acids?
A change in the base-pair sequence of a gene.
What is mutation?
Traits passed from parents to offspring through genetic material.
What are inherited traits?
Natural selection requires this in order to act on a population
What is genetic variation?
Genetic information is found in what part of the cell?
Nucleus
A sequence of three DNA bases that codes for one amino acid.
What is a triplet?
The three types of mutations that can occur when DNA is copied.
What are addition (insertion), deletion, and substitution?
Traits that help organisms survive and reproduce in their current environment.
What are adaptations?
The star-nosed mole's unique nose structure became more common in the population through this process.
What is natural selection?
The four bases found in DNA. (just the letters)
A, T, G, C
What does phenotype mean?
Physical characteristics
What mutation is the least likely to cause an effect?
Substitution
An adaptation can be one of these three things.
What are a structure, a function, or a behavior?
Name a mutation that is NOT beneficial to an organism. (could be many answers)
Example: cancer, disease, anything that does not allow it to survive and reproduce
The base C always pairs with this base in DNA
A protein that speeds up chemical reactions and binds to target molecules.
What is an enzyme?
Only mutations in this type of cell can be passed from parent to offspring.
What are reproductive cells (eggs and sperm)?
The blue color of a lobster is caused by this type of genetic event.
What is a rare genetic mutation?
What is the main function of genes?
The synthesis of proteins
A specific segment of DNA that provides instructions for an inherited trait.
What is a gene?
The shape of the protein determines its what?
Function
Mutations may be this — three possible outcomes for an organism.
What are beneficial, neutral, or harmful?
This process, along with mutation, is a source of genetic variation in a population.
What is sexual reproduction?
This is the sequence that best explains how DNA leads to a physical trait. (this is directly from the self reflection)
DNA base triplets → amino acid sequence → protein folding pattern → protein shape and function