DNA, RNA, Protein Synthesis, and Mutation Jeopardy!

Structure and Function of DNA

100

One DNA strand has a base sequence GTCCATA. The base sequence on the second strand of DNA is...

CAGGTAT

200

What do we call the monomers of DNA? What are its 3 parts? Which two parts form the backbone? What is the function of the backbone?

Nucleotide: phosphate group, sugar (deoxyribose), base (A, C, T, or G). The phosphate and sugar form the backbone. The backbone provides structure and support for the molecule.

300

Describe the function/purpose of DNA in organisms. What is a gene?

A gene is a sequence of DNA nucleotides that acts as a recipe for a specific protein.

400

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)

500

In a sample of DNA, 40% of the bases are adenine. What percentage of bases are guanine?

10%

RNA and Transcription

100

A single stranded piece of a DNA has the following bases: ACTGAG. What is the matching sequence on its RNA transcript?

UGACUC

200

Transcription: What does is make? What enzyme makes the product? Where does it take place?

RNA. RNA polymerase. Nucleus.

300

Why can’t DNA leave the nucleus?

DNA is too long/bulky to exit through the nuclear pores.

400

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.

500

Name 4 differences between DNA and RNA.

DNA: deoxyribose, thymine, long, double-stranded, made by DNA replication. RNA: ribose, uracil, short, single-stranded, made by transcription.

Protein Synthesis

100

This process turns mRNA into a protein.

Translation.

200

What cell organelle makes protein? What are the monomers of protein called?

Ribosome / amino acids

300

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.

400

A ribosome makes a protein containing 60 amino acids. The corresponding mRNA consists of at least how many codons?

60

500

1) The bonds that the ribosomes use to hold amino acids together during protein synthesis are called… 2) This is what we call a chain of amino acids (a protein before it gets its shape)

Peptide bonds. Polypeptide.

Mutations

100

What is a mutation? Name 2 environmental factors can cause a mutation.

Any change to an organism's DNA/genome. Environmental factors: chemicals, radiation, sun, food, & viruses

200

What is a frameshift mutation?

This type of mutation occurs when bases are inserted or deletedm, causing ALL the codons from the point of mutation forward to change, thus change causing all the amino acids to change.

300

Are all mutations harmful? If not, give a counter example.

Helpful mutations: having ONE sickle cell gene makes you immune to the parasite that causes malaria. Neutral mutations: blue eyes

400

Give one example of a harmful mutation and one example of a lethal mutation.

Harmful example: sickle cell anemia, hemophilia, & cancer. Lethal mutation: Tay Sachs Syndrome

500

What is a chromosomal mutation? Give an example.

Alterations to a piece of a chromosome or a whole chromosome [e.g., Down syndrome (3 chromosome #21)]