Structure and Function of DNA
What shape is DNA?
Double Helix
The complementary DNA strand of: CAAGTA
What is GTTCAT?
A single stranded piece of a DNA has the following bases: ACTGAG. What is the matching sequence on its RNA transcript?
UGACUC
This process turns mRNA into a protein.
Translation.
What is a mutation? Name 2 environmental factors can cause a mutation.
Any change to an organism's nucleotide sequence in DNA/Genome. Environmental factors: chemicals, radiation, sun/UV, Thymine dimers, Free radicals, carcinogens & viruses
These two men are credited with figuring out the shape & structure of DNA. They used a photograph taken by a female fellow scientist (+points if you can name the female scientist).
James Watson and Francis Crick (+points for Rosalind Franklin)
Transcription: What does is make? What enzyme makes the product? Where does it take place?
mRNA. RNA polymerase. Nucleus.
This process uses DNA to make/code for a strand of mRNA.
Transcription
What is a point mutation? Give 2 examples
A mutation that causes a change in one base/nucleotide in the DNA sequence. Silent , Missense, Nonsense, Insertion, Deletion.
What do we call the monomers of DNA? What are its 3 parts?
Nucleotide: phosphate group, sugar (deoxyribose), base (A, C, T, or G).
Which nucleotide bases pair with one another? Do you remember the trick "Apples in....something about a garage"?
Adenine and Thymine, Cytosine and Guanine
Apples in the Tree, Cars in the Garage
You start with 100 bases. There is 30% Guanine. How much Thymine is there?
20% Thymine
What are the monomers of protein called?
Amino Acids
Describe the function/purpose of DNA in organisms. What is a gene?
It acts as a blueprint for your genes. A gene is a sequence of DNA nucleotides that acts as a recipe for a specific protein.
Name the three different types of RNA and describe the function of each of them.
mRNA: delivers a copy version of a DNA gene from the nucleus to the ribosome. tRNA: transfers the amino acids to the ribosome. rRNA: part of the ribosome.
What cell organelle makes protein?
Ribosomes
What is the following mutation?
Original: TAC CGG ACG TTT GCG
mRNA: AUG GCC UGC AAA CGC
Amino Acids: met ala cys lys arg
Mutation: TAC CGG ACG TTT GCG
mRNA: AUG GCC UGA AAA CGC
Amino: Met Ala STOP ___ ____
Nonsense mutation affects the sequence by switching 1 base which causes a STOP codon to present too early in the sequence.
Name the 3 enzymes involved in DNA replication and describe their function.
Helicase: unzips/unwinds the DNA helix by breaking the bonds between the bases. DNA Primase synthesizes short RNA primers that initiate DNA replication. DNA polymerase: makes DNA by adding complementary bases to the other side of each of the original strands.
Name 3 differences between DNA and RNA.
DNA: deoxyribose, thymine, double-stranded, made by DNA replication. RNA: ribose, uracil, single-stranded, made by transcription.
What is an anti-codon? What is its purpose?
A 3 nucleotide sequence on a tRNA that matches to a specific mRNA codon. When a tRNA finds a matching mRNA codon (with the ribosomes help), it drops off the attached amino acid to be used in protein.