Genomics

Question 1

What is the key property of the genome?

Answer 1

It is made of replicators, these are molecules that can get themselves copied and carry information

Question 2

What are some modern functions of ribonucleic acid?

Answer 2

Coding proteins via mRNA.
Structural - rRNA tRNA etc
Regulatory - siRNA, miRNA

Question 3

What epigenetic changes can occur in histones and what do these lead to?

Answer 3

Histone acetlyation generally leads to an increase in gene expression. Histone methylation generally leads to repression of gene expression.

Question 4

What is a transposable element or transposon and how can it lead to mutations?

Answer 4

It is a DNA sequence that can change it’s position within a genome. During this process parts of DNA may move with the transposable element that can introduce mutations.

Question 5

In G banding what do the light and dark bands represent?

Answer 5

The dark bands are AT rich whilst the light bands are CG rich. The light bands are usually genes (genes are CG rich in general)