Unit 2 Part 1: Nucleic Acids & Gene Expression

Vocabulary definitions

100

structure that forms when the DNA and proteins, called histones, condense. It appears when the cell is about to divide. 

chromosomes

200

molecule that carries genetic information and controls the emergence of traits through the synthesis of proteins

DNA

300

the correspondence between the mRNA codons and the amino acids that form the proteins

genetic code

400

type of chromosome where the centromere is very near one of the ends of the chromosome, which makes the arms very unequal

acrocentric

500

a) process in which information contained in the DNA is transferred to a molecule of mRNA

b) process consisting of synthesizing a protein molecule following the code contained in the mRNA molecule transcribed from a DNA sequence  

a) transcription 

b) translation

DNA & RNA molecules

100

True or False: RNA molecules have 3D structures

True; RNA strands can be very complex as they often fold up and create bonds with different areas of the same molecule

200

True or False: RNA strands are larger than DNA strands

False, RNA strands are smaller because they have fewer nucleotides

300

What are the names of the nitrogenous bases of an RNA molecule?

adenine (A), uracil (U), guanine (G), cytosine (C)

400

The nitrogenous bases form the inside of the helix and the _____ and ____ form the skeleton

sugars and phosphate group 

500

Explain the differences between Messenger RNA, Ribosomal RNA & Transfer RNA

mRNA- synthesized from DNA in the nucleus. Contains the information to provide proteins in the cytoplasm. 

rRNA- made up of molecules of different sizes that form the structure of ribosomes 

tRNA- helps synthesize proteins by transporting the amino acids to the ribosomes

Chromosomes

100

True or False: In eukaryotes, all cells in individuals of the same species have the same number of chromosomes

True

200

What information about chromosomes do karyotypes show us? (Hint: There are 3 things)

1) number 2) type and 3) structure of chromosomes that are characteristic of a species 

300

Explain the difference between metacentric and submetacentric chromosomes

in metacentric the cetromere is located in the middle of the chromosome (so its arms are roughly equal in length) whereas submetacentric chromosomes have the centromere closer to one end (the arms are slightly unequal in length)

400

Explain the difference between haploid and diploid number

haploid number (n) - the total number of pairs of chromosomes

diploid number (2n) - the total number of chromosomes, with both sets in pairs

500

How many chromosomes do the following have? 

- Human beings 

- Dogs 

- Fern

46, 78, >500

Transcription & Translation

100

Where does transcription take place in the cell?

nucleus 

200

Where does translation take place in a cell? AND spell out loud

cytoplasm

300

In the cytoplasm, the mRNA bonds to the _____

ribosomes

400

Free amino acids bond to _____

tRNA (transfer RNA)

500

there is a tRNA for each of the amino acids. The molecule contains a set of three nucleotides called ______. The bases of the tRNA ______(same as 1st blank) are ______ to the mRNA codon.

anticodon (twice), complementary

The cell cycle

100

True or False: Interphase is longer than mitotic phase

True

200

True or False: Interphase consists of the S1 phase, G phase and S2 phase

False - G1, S, G2

300

What happens during cytokinesis?

The cell divides its cytoplasm and organelles between the two daughter cells that contain sets of chromosomes that are identical to the mother's set 

400

What are the four phases of mitosis (or M phase)?

Prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase 

500

What are the cell phases in order? 

Interphase- G1, S, G2 

then Mitotic/cell division 

-M phase - prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase

-Cytokinesis