Gene Expression
What is the process of copying DNA into mRNA called?
Transcription
What type of biological molecule is an enzyme?
Protein
What is a plasmid?
A small circular piece of bacterial DNA
What is the main purpose of PCR?
To amplify DNA
What gas do plants release during photosynthesis?
Oxygen
Where does translation occur in a eukaryotic cell?
Ribosome
What part of the enzyme binds to the substrate?
active site
What is bacterial transformation?
The uptake of foreign DNA by bacteria
Which enzyme is used in PCR to build new DNA strands?
Taq Polymerase
What planet is 2nd from the Sun
Venus
Give me one event in RNA processing
One of - alternative splicing, methyl cap/polyA tail, splicing of introns
What does lowering activation energy do to a chemical reaction?
It increases the rate of the reaction
Why is ampicillin added to agar plates after transformation?
To select bacteria that have taken up the plasmid
What PCR step separates the DNA strands?
Denaturation
How many base pairs code for one amino acid?
Three
In the trp operon, what happens when tryptophan levels are high?
The operon is repressed and transcription stops
Which level of protein structure involves alpha‑helices and beta‑sheets?
Secondary structure
What does the lacZ gene allow scientists to identify?
The plasmid that has the fusion protein incorporated successfully (turns X-gal sugar white to blue)
What property of DNA allows it to move during gel electrophoresis?
DNA is negatively charged
Which scientist is famous for the theory of evolution by natural selection?
Charles Darwin
What is an operon?
A cluster of genes regulated together and transcribed as one mRNA
Why does denaturation usually cause an enzyme to stop working?
The shape of the active site changes, so the substrate no longer fits
If bacteria grow on ampicillin but not on tetracycline, what does this indicate?
They are recombinant bacteria with disrupted tetracycline resistance
Why do smaller DNA fragments move further through the gel than larger ones?
They experience less resistance and move more easily through the gel matrix/pores
What is the name of the process by which bacteria reproduce?
Binary Fission