Biology: Genetics Flashcards

1
Q

what is a gene?

A

a section of DNA..

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2
Q

what is the locus of a gene?

A

the position of a gene of particular strand of DNA?

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3
Q

how is the genetic code non-overlapping?

A

the base of a triplet specifying the position of a particular amino acid doesn’t contribute to specifying the positions of other amino acid units. bases don’t overlap between triplets.

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4
Q

how is the genetic code degenerate?

A

all amino acids in a polypeptide are specified by more than one codon.

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5
Q

what is the difference between an intron and exon?

A

introns are non-coding regions of a gene.

exons are the coding regions of a gene.

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6
Q

what is the genetic code?

A

it’s the sequence of bases of all genes in a cell and the information it carries, it’s universal.

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7
Q

describe the structure of RNA

A
  • single stranded
  • ribose sugar
  • thymine is replaced by uricil
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8
Q

what are the types of RNA, explain each of them

A
  • mRNA: synthesised in a cell nucleus. it’s complementary to the template strand from which the RNA is formed.
  • tRNA: held together by hydrogen bonds within the molecule. amino acid at one end, anticodon on the other. the anticodon is complementary to the mRNA codon.
  • rRNA: combines with protein to form ribosomes
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9
Q

explain the process of transcription

A

1) DNA helicase breaks the hydrogen bonds and unzips the DNA structure. this exposes the coding strand and transcribing strand. the transcribing strand carries information used to encode polypeptide synthesis. the sequences which encode polypeptides on the transcribing strand are called exons.
2) RNA polymerase adds more nucleotides onto the growing mRNA strand. bases of the nucleotides are complementary to bases on the transcribing strand. mRNA lengthens in the 5’ to 3’ direction, producing pre-mRNA. the introns and exons are complementary to the introns and exons on the transcribing strand. enzymes called splicosomes remove introns and join exons together, this forms mature mRNA.
3) mature mRNA leaves the nucleus through the nuclear pores.

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10
Q

explain the process of translation.

A

1) a strand of mature mRNA binds to a ribosome. it moves along the strand until it reaches a start codon.
2) tRNA molecules collect amino acids from the cytoplasm.
3) tRNA reaches a start codon, another tRNA molecule binds to the anticodon after that. they’re held in place by the ribosome and a peptide bond forms between the amino acids, a polypeptide forms.
4) it continues to move along until it reaches a stop codon, the bond between the terminal tRNA molecule and the polypeptide is hydrolysed and a polypeptide is released.
5) it’s transported to the Golgi to be packaged

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11
Q

what are the 3 types of chromosome mutation?

explain each

A

deletion: a part of a chromosome is lost
translocation: part of a chromosome moves to another chromosome
inversion: the broken part of a chromosome rejoins it after it rotates 180 degrees

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12
Q

describe the process of meiosis

A
  • interphase: genetic material replicated
  • prophase: chromosomes condense, nuclear membrane breaks down
  • metaphase: chromosomes line up along the middle and attach to spindle fibres
  • anaphase: spindle fibres are shortened and chromosomes are pulled apart
  • telophase: new nuclear membrane forms.

the process repeats itself and 4 daughter cells are formed as a result.

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13
Q

how does crossing over work?

A
  • homologous pairs line up
  • the chromatids change position and alleles begin to swap with eachother, chromosomes become twisted.
  • the genes are on the same loci, but the chromatid have swapped around, creating different pairs of chromosomes and variation happens as a result.
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14
Q

how does random assortment work?

A
  • homologous pairs line up along the equator randomly
  • combination of chromosomes pulled to each pole is random
  • daughter cells produced are genetically different
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15
Q

how do species evolve?

A
  • individuals vary genetically
  • resources are finite
  • organisms have the potential to over-reproduce but the population usually remains stable
  • individuals inherit successful alleles, this is advantageous for them so they live longer and produce offspring which inherit those genes
  • ones without the successful alleles die out
  • this is called natural selection
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16
Q

what is the order of classification

A
kingdom
 phylum
 class 
order
 family 
genus
 species
17
Q

what is courtship behaviour?

A

the interaction between males and females of the same species which leads to reproduction

the stimulus triggers a response in the mate

18
Q

what is the purpose of courtship behaviour?

A
  • allows individuals to recognise one another

- promotes pre-zygotic isolation.

19
Q

how can animals be classed using immunological techniques?

A
  • serum taken from sample animal
  • injected into rabbit
  • the rabbit makes antibodies complementary to that animal’s cells
  • serum taken from rabbit
  • mixed with serum of other animals, precipitate forms when antibodies bind
  • the amount of precipitate formed is proportional to how closely related they are
20
Q

how do you use nucleotides to compare species?

A
  • heat up sample dna strands
  • mix to make a hybrid DNA strand
  • use radioactive tracers to see how many nucleotides have successfully bound
  • this is proportional to how closely related they are