Genomes & Chromosomes

Question 1

Are prokaryote genomes single or double stranded DNA?

Answer 1

Double stranded

Question 2

What are the main components of a Prokaryote genome?

Answer 2

They are haploid - made of chromosomes and megaplasmids

Question 3

Plasmid

Answer 3

Circular, double stranded, extrachromosomal pieces

Question 4

What is different about the Prokaryote nucleus structure?

Answer 4

There is no nucleus - DNA is housed in the nucleoid (not membrane bound)

Question 5

What is the purpose of a DNA supercoil?

Answer 5

Holds the DNA in a compact structure (domain loops) with the help of histone like proteins

Question 6

DNA annotation

Answer 6

Predicting which parts of the DNA codes genes for proteins by looking at Open Reading Frames (ORF)

Question 7

Open Reading Frame

Answer 7

A section of DNA, ‘reading frame’, with no stop codons

Question 8

What is the difference between prokaryote and eukaryote genomes?

Answer 8

Prokaryote - dense with few space between genes & have no introns

Question 9

How can gene function be predicted?

Answer 9

Genes are evolutionarily related - compared via database - a conserved motif/domain can clue about the function

Question 10

Orthologs

Answer 10

Homologous genes in different organisms that are derived from a single ancestral gene

Question 11

Paralogs

Answer 11

Genes present in the same genome and are related via a duplication event