DNA Structure & Replication
What are the three chemical components that make up a single DNA nucleotide?
A phosphate group, a deoxyribose sugar, and a nitrogenous base
What is a codon, and on which type of RNA molecule is it located?
Three-base mRNA sequence
If two parents with brown eyes (dominant) have a child with blue eyes (recessive), what must be the genotypes of both parents?
Both are Bb
What are the two main biological reasons why multicellular organisms use cell division?
Growth and repair
What are the species-shared bone structures called that indicate a shared common ancestor?
Homologous structures
According to base pairing rules, if a DNA molecule contains 22% Adenine, what are the percentages of Thymine, Guanine, and Cytosine?
22% Thymine, 28% Guanine, and 28% Cytosine.
Where in the cell does transcription take place, and where does translation take place?
Nucleus and ribosome
In human blood types, why are alleles A and B considered "codominant"?
Both express equally
Define "checkpoints" and "apoptosis," and explain how they work together to protect an organism.
Quality control, death
What is a vestigial structure? Give one example from your study guide.
Functionless remnant; pelvis
Which chemical parts form the alternating "backbone" (sides) of the DNA ladder, and which parts make up the "rungs" (steps)?
The backbone is made of alternating deoxyribose sugar and phosphate; the rungs are made of nitrogenous base pairs.
Describe the structural relationship between a chromosome, a gene, and a protein.
Genes make proteins
If a red bull (RR) mates with a white cow (WW) to produce Roan offspring (RW), what percentage of their offspring will be Roan?
100%
How does the behavior of normal cells regarding "contact inhibition" differ from the behavior of cancer cells?
Cancer never stops
Why is DNA sequencing considered one of the most reliable pieces of evidence for mapping evolutionary relationships?
Shows direct heritage
What is the primary purpose of DNA replication, and how does the genetic makeup of the resulting molecules compare to the original?
Copying DNA; identical
Compare and contrast the roles of mRNA and tRNA during protein synthesis.
mRNA carries; tRNA delivers
When crossing two heterozygous parents (Aa x Aa), what are the expected genotype and phenotype ratios of the offspring?
1:2:1 genotype; 3:1 phenotype
Using the car analogy, explain how a mutation in an oncogene promotes uncontrolled cell division.
Stuck gas pedal
Using the example of the rock pocket mice, explain how an environmental change can lead to a shift in the physical traits (phenotypes) of a population.
Survival of fittest
What are the three primary biological roles that DNA serves within a living organism?
Store, copy, transmit
How can a single base substitution mutation in a gene completely alter a protein's function?
Changes amino acids
An unaffected mother who is not a carrier (XHXH) has a child with a male who has hemophilia (XhY). Why will 100% of their daughters be carriers while 0% of their sons will have the disorder?
X-linked inheritance rules
Using the car analogy, explain how a mutation in a tumor suppressor gene leads to uncontrolled cell growth.
Broken brakes
When looking at a cladogram, how do you determine which two species are the most closely related?
Closest common ancestor