DNA
What are the four nitrogenous bases present in DNA?
adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine
What are the 3 types of RNA involved in protein synthesis?
mRNA (messenger RNA), rRNA (ribosomal RNA), and tRNA (transfer RNA)
An anticodon is a sequence of 3 bases on _________.
tRNA
Which genetic engineering method requires the Cas9 enzyme and a piece of guide RNA in order to work?
CRISPR-Cas9
What is the monomer of nucleic acids (like DNA and RNA)?
nucleotide
What is the sugar in DNA called?
deoxyribose
What is the name of the sugar found in RNA?
ribose
Where does each step of protein synthesis take place?
transcription takes place in the nucleus, and translation takes place in the ribosome
What are the 4 branches of biotechnology that we talked about in class?
medical, environmental, industrial, food/nutrition
Give an example of artificial selection.
many possible answers (the ones from class are dog breeding and the wild mustard plant)
A G T C C G A T A G C G G A T
T C A G G C T A T C G C C T A
What is one way that RNA is different than DNA?
- single stranded vs. double stranded
- uracil instead of thymine
- ribose instead of deoxyribose
What is the sequence of the complementary mRNA transcript for the template strand of DNA below?
C T A C A G G T C A G C T T A C G
G A U G U C C A G U C G A A U G C
Briefly explain genetic engineering.
Any process that uses lab-based technology to alter the DNA of an organism.
They are the site of translation
What is the purpose of DNA replication?
In order for a cell to divide, its genetic material must be duplicated. Therefore, both cells can have a complete copy of the genetic material.
What are the four bases present in RNA?
adenine, guanine, cytosine, and uracil
Explain the key components of a tRNA molecule. Then, explain how a tRNA molecule functions correctly.
A tRNA molecule has a specific amino acid that corresponds to its anticodon. This allows it to match up with the complementary mRNA codon and bring the correct amino acid to the ribosome.
Give a specific example of how biotechnology has improved human lives.
- bacteria producing insulin
- producing healthier food
- farmers making more money, etc.
Explain artificial selection.
the identification by humans of desirable traits in plants and animals, and the steps taken to enhance and keep those traits in future generations
What are the 2 important enzymes used in DNA replication? What does each one do?
DNA Helicase: unwinds and unzips the DNA
DNA Polymerase: reads the template strand and forms a complementary strand of DNA from free nucleotides
Explain the function of each type of RNA used in protein synthesis.
mRNA: provides the template for making the protein
tRNA: brings correct amino acid during translation
rRNA: makes up the structure of the ribosome
Name the three steps of transcription and what happens in each step.
1. initiation: RNA polymerase binds to DNA near the beginning of the desired gene
2. elongation: RNA polymerase uses one of the existing DNA strands as a “template” to make a complementary RNA molecule
3. termination: a certain sequence in the DNA signals that the mRNA transcript is finished
Explain what the CRISPR-Cas9 method does to DNA.
CRISPR-Cas9 is a biotechnology method that allows you to edit DNA inside an organism by removing, adding, or changing parts of the DNA sequence
Give an example of when we would use restriction enzymes to edit DNA.