D1.2.3 Stability of DNA templates Flashcards
(32 cards)
How does understanding DNA stability impact medical applications?
It helps researchers develop treatments for genetic disorders and cancer, such as drugs targeting DNA repair pathways.
What occurs to the DNA strands after RNA polymerase passes?
The DNA strands re-anneal (rejoin) immediately, restoring the stable double-helix structure.
What are somatic cells?
Somatic cells are all the cells in the body except sperm and egg cells.
What happens to the DNA double helix during transcription?
The DNA double helix unwinds temporarily and locally in the region where RNA polymerase is active.
What makes the sugar-phosphate backbone of DNA resistant to breaking?
The sugar-phosphate backbone is held together by strong covalent bonds.
Why is DNA considered an attractive medium for data storage?
DNA’s stability, durability, and compactness make it an appealing option for encoding digital information.
Why is DNA stability critical for somatic cells that do not divide?
In non-dividing somatic cells, DNA must remain stable for their entire lifespan to prevent malfunctioning proteins and diseases.
What is a key ethical consideration regarding DNA stability and genetic engineering?
How enhancing DNA stability in somatic cells could influence human lifespan or prevent age-related diseases.
How do cells address chemical damage to DNA?
Cells use repair enzymes, such as base excision repair and nucleotide excision repair, to fix DNA damage.
How does DNA ensure its sequence remains unchanged during transcription?
Through temporary unwinding of the double helix, hydrogen bonding, and proofreading mechanisms.
What is the role of DNA stability in somatic cells?
In somatic cells, DNA stability ensures that the DNA sequence remains unchanged throughout the cell’s life, preventing errors from accumulating.
How do environmental stressors affect DNA stability?
Extreme conditions can destabilize DNA, but cells use proteins like histones to protect and package DNA into chromatin.
Why are DNA bases more stable than RNA bases?
DNA bases are chemically stable and less prone to spontaneous changes compared to RNA bases.
What is one evolutionary benefit of DNA stability?
DNA stability allows for the preservation of beneficial traits while permitting occasional mutations that provide genetic diversity.
What is the advantage of DNA’s double-stranded structure?
The double-stranded structure provides redundancy; if one strand is damaged, the complementary strand can guide repair.
What happens to mutations that occur in RNA during transcription?
Mutations in RNA do not affect the DNA template and are often corrected by cellular quality control mechanisms.
What could happen if DNA templates were unstable?
Errors could accumulate over time, leading to faulty RNA and proteins, disrupting cellular functions and causing diseases.
What is the significance of hydrogen bonds in DNA stability?
Hydrogen bonds between complementary bases (A-T and C-G) ensure that the two strands of DNA remain tightly paired.
Does RNA polymerase have proofreading abilities?
No, RNA polymerase does not have proofreading abilities like DNA polymerase.
What mechanisms does DNA have for error correction?
DNA is equipped with sophisticated repair mechanisms that correct errors, such as mismatched bases or chemical damage.
List three reasons why cells control transcription.
- Efficiency: Save energy
- Specialization: Different cell types express different genes
- Adaptation: Respond to environmental changes.
What is an analogy for transcription?
Transcription is like a light switch, where promoters and transcription factors are the hands that turn the switch on or off.
Why is transcription considered a critical control point?
Transcription is a critical control point because it is where gene expression can be switched on or off.
How does the transcriptome vary?
The transcriptome varies between cell types and changes in response to the cell’s needs.
