Genetic Variation
What is a mutation?
A change in the DNA that can lead to genetic variation.
What is the shape of DNA?
Double helix.
What type of sugar does RNA contain?
Ribose.
What is the first step in DNA replication?
Unwinding of the double helix by helicase.
What enzyme is responsible for synthesizing RNA?
RNA polymerase.
what is genetic drift?
A random change in allele frequency in a population.
What are the building blocks of DNA?
Nucleotides
How many types of RNA are there? Name one.
Three types (mRNA, tRNA, rRNA).
What is the role of DNA helicase?
To unzip the DNA strands by breaking hydrogen bonds between bases.
What occurs during the elongation phase of transcription?
RNA polymerase adds RNA nucleotides complementary to the DNA template strand.
What is a chromosomal mutation?
A mutation that affects the structure of chromosomes
How do the bases pair in DNA?
ATCG
What base is found in RNA but not in DNA
Uracil (U)
What are Okazaki fragments?
Short sequences of DNA synthesized on the lagging strand during replication.
How does RNA polymerase know where to start transcription?
A terminator sequence in the DNA.
What is the role of recombination in genetic variation?
It results in new combinations of alleles during meiosis.
What is the importance of the double helix structure?
It allows for efficient packing of DNA and protects genetic information.
What is the difference between mRNA and rRNA?
mRNA carries genetic information from DNA to ribosomes, while rRNA is a component of ribosomes
What is semi-conservative replication?
Each new DNA molecule contains one original strand and one newly synthesized strand.
What are codons?
Three-nucleotide sequences on mRNA that correspond to specific amino acids.
How do environmental factors influence genetic variation?
They can affect the expression of genes
How does DNA replication ensure accuracy?
Through complementary base pairing and the proofreading function of DNA polymerase.
In what cellular location does RNA processing occur?
Nucleus.
What is the role of primase in replication?
To synthesize a short RNA primer to initiate DNA synthesis.
What is the role of tRNA in translation?
To transport amino acids to the ribosome and match them to the codons on mRNA.