DNA/Genes + Genetic Diversity

Question 1

Gene

Answer 1

a specific sequence of DNA bases that carries the instructions for building a protein or a functional RNA molecule

Question 2

Locus

Answer 2

The specific position of a gene on a chromosome

Question 3

Three properties of genetic code

Answer 3

Degenerate - more than one triplet to make an amino acid
Universal - same triplets code for same amino acids in all organisms
Non-overlapping - each base in each triplet is read only once

Question 4

Exons

Answer 4

a sequence of DNA within a gene that is transcribed into RNA and subsequently translated into a protein

Question 5

Introns

Answer 5

non-coding DNA sequences within a gene that are removed from the pre-mRNA (primary mRNA) during RNA splicing

Question 6

Histones

Answer 6

Protein that DNA wraps itself around

Question 7

Chromosomes

Answer 7

a thread-like structure within the nucleus of a cell, composed of highly condensed DNA and associated proteins

Question 8

Chromatid

Answer 8

one of the two identical strands of DNA that make up a replicated chromosome.

Question 9

Homologous pair

Answer 9

a pair of chromosomes in a diploid cell where one chromosome is inherited from the mother and the other from the father.

Question 10

Diploid

Answer 10

contains two complete sets of chromosomes, denoted as 2n

Question 11

Meiosis

Answer 11

a specialized type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, creating four genetically distinct haploid gametes (sperm and egg cells) from a diploid parent cell

Question 12

Allele

Answer 12

a variation of a gene that exists at a specific location (locus) on a chromosome

Question 13

Genome

Answer 13

the complete set of genetic material (DNA) in an organism, containing all the genes

Question 14

Proteome

Answer 14

the complete set of proteins that a cell or organism is able to produce

Question 15

mRNA

Answer 15

a single-stranded RNA molecule that carries genetic information from the DNA in the nucleus to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm

Question 16

tRNA

Answer 16

a small RNA molecule that acts as a bridge between the genetic information in DNA and the process of protein synthesis

Question 17

Codon

Answer 17

a sequence of three consecutive nucleotide bases on a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule that codes for a specific amino acid during protein synthesis

Question 18

Anticodon

Answer 18

a sequence of three nucleotide bases found within a tRNA molecule

Question 19

Transcription

Answer 19

the process where a DNA sequence is copied into an RNA sequence, typically mRNA, by the enzyme RNA polymerase.

Question 20

Translation

Answer 20

the process where the information encoded in messenger RNA (mRNA) is used to synthesize a protein (polypeptide chain)

Question 21

Haploid

Answer 21

a cell that contains only one complete set of chromosomes

Question 22

Gamete

Answer 22

a haploid sex cell, specifically the sperm (male) or egg (female) cell, that fuses with another gamete during sexual reproduction to form a diploid zygote

Question 23

Directional Selection

Answer 23

a type of natural selection where an extreme phenotype within a population is favored, leading to a gradual shift in the average phenotype over time

Question 24

Stabilising selection

Answer 24

a type of natural selection that favors individuals with average or intermediate traits within a population, while selecting against extreme variations

Question 25

Bivalent Pair

Answer 25

a pair of homologous chromosomes that have paired up during prophase I of meiosis