DNA Basics
What are the four bases of DNA?
Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, Guanine
What enzyme unwinds the DNA helix during replication?
Helices
What does PCR stand for?
Polymerase Chain Reaction
What is the process of making RNA from DNA called?
Transcription
What is the Central Dogma of molecular biology?
(DNA → RNA → Protein)
What type of bond holds the base pairs together?
Hydrogen bonds
What enzyme adds nucleotides to the growing DNA strand?
DNA polymerase
What enzyme is critical for PCR?
Taq polymerase
What base is found in RNA but not in DNA?
Uracil
What molecule carries amino acids to the ribosome during translation?
tRNA
What is the shape of DNA called?
Double helix
What are the short DNA fragments on the lagging strand called?
Okazaki fragments
What are the three steps of a PCR cycle?
Denaturation, Annealing, Extension
What enzyme synthesizes RNA during transcription?
RNA polymerase
What is the start codon for translation?
AUG
DNA strands run in opposite directions. What is this called?
Antiparallel orientation
What enzyme joins Okazaki fragments together?
DNA ligase
What is the purpose of primers in PCR?
To provide a starting point for DNA synthesis
What happens during RNA splicing?
Introns are removed, and exons are joined together
What is the role of ribosomes in the Central Dogma?
To assemble proteins during translation
Who were the scientists credited with discovering the structure of DNA?
James Watson and Francis Crick
Why is the lagging strand synthesized discontinuously?
It runs in the 5' to 3' direction opposite the replication fork, so DNA polymerase works in fragments
What type of sequencing uses fluorescently labeled bases to determine DNA sequences?
Sanger sequencing
What is the purpose of the 5' cap and poly-A tail added to mRNA?
They protect mRNA from degradation and aid in translation
How does a mutation in DNA affect the Central Dogma process?
it can change the RNA sequence, which may alter the protein structure and function.