DNA & RNA
DNA
the molecule that stores genetic information
operator
a genetic switch turning transcription on or off
amino acids
building blocks (monomers) of proteins
A nucleotide consists of 3 parts. Name them.
a phosphate group
a nitrogen base (4 choices: Adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine)
What did Chargaff conclude from his experiments?
Chargaff concluded that the amount of adenine in a cell was equal to the amount of thymine and likewise for guanine and cytosine.
mRNA
messenger RNA
carries copies of the DNA sequence out of the nucleus
promoter
the location where RNA polymerase binds to begin transcription
anticodon
a set of three bases on a tRNA that matches a codon
What is the purpose of Histones?
Histones allow long strands of DNA to be wrapped and organized into chromosomes without tangling.
How did Franklin, Watson, & Crick contribute to the structure of DNA?
Franklin determined that DNA was helical and Watson & Crick made the final double helix model with bases on the inside.
rRNA
ribosomal RNA
makes up ribosomes
transcription
process of making an mRNA copy of a DNA strand
codon
a set of three bases on an mRNA strand
List the function of each of these enzymes:
-DNA polymerase
-Helicase
DNA polymerase adds nitrogen bases during DNA replication
helicase unwinds the parent DNA strands during DNA replication.
Why were Avery’s and Hershey & Chase’s experiments important?
Avery’s and Hershey and Chase’s experiments were important because they verified that DNA, not protein, carried the genetic information.
tRNA
transfer RNA
carries amino acids to form protein chains
transcription factor
a set of proteins used to regulate transcription in eukaryotic organisms
mutagen
a substance that causes mutations in DNA
Name 3 differences between DNA and RNA.
DNA is double-stranded, RNA is single-stranded; DNA uses deoxyribose sugar, RNA uses ribose sugar; DNA uses thymine, RNA uses uracil.
If a repressor is attached to the operator, will the gene be transcribed or not?
No because the repressor will block the RNA polymerase from binding to the promoter.
nucleotide
building block of DNA (made of sugar, phosphate, & base)
the building of a protein from an mRNA strand
mutation
a change in a DNA sequence
How do introns and exons differ?
Introns are removed during the final processing of the mRNA, but exons remain to be used in protein synthesis.
In order for RNA polymerase to bind to eukaryotic DNA, what must the transcription factors do?
They must remove the coils in the DNA and cause it to relax.