Structure of Genes and RNA

Question 1

When does gene expression occur?

Answer 1

It occurs when a product is created from a gene

Question 2

What are genes?

Answer 2

Segments of DNA within a larger DNA molecule

Question 3

What does the base sequence do to the product?

Answer 3

The base sequence within a gene contains the information needed to make the product

Question 4

How does gene expression begin?

Answer 4

It begins with the transfer of the information from the gene to an RNA molecule

Question 5

What is transcription?

Answer 5

The process of procuring an RNA molecule with a base sequence similar to that within the gene

Question 6

What are transcripts?

Answer 6

The RNA produced by transcription

Question 7

What genes are transcribed?

Answer 7

All genes that are expressed are transcribed

Question 8

What are the final products in SOME genes?

Answer 8

An RNA molecule

Question 9

What are the RNA molecules produced from those genes called?

Answer 9

Non-coding RNAs/transcripts

Question 10

What do non-coding RNAs/transcripts do?

Answer 10

They DO NOT code for a polypeptide

Question 11

For many genes, what is RNA considered to be?

Answer 11

An intermediate product used to create a particular polypeptide

Question 12

What is the base sequence of the intermediate RNA used for?

Answer 12

The base sequence of the RNA is used to produce a polypeptide with a specific amino acid sequence

Question 13

What is translation?

Answer 13

Using the base sequence of an RNA to produce a polypeptide

Question 14

In bacteria, how are transcription and translation occurring?

Answer 14

Transcription and translation are occurring at the same time at the same location within the cell

Question 15

In eukaryotic cells, how are transcription and translation occurring?

Answer 15

Transcription occurs within the nucleus, where DNA is located.
The RNA is transferred from the nucleus to the cytoplasm of the cell.
Translation of the RNA occurs within the cytoplasm

Question 16

A gene has two regions. What are those regions used for?

Answer 16

1. One contains a base sequence that is transcribed into RNA
2. The other contains a base sequence that is not

Question 17

What kind of sequences are found in the transcribed region?

Answer 17

The coding sequence, which is the base sequence used to create the product
Terminator/terminating sequence
Introns

Question 18

What are introns?

Answer 18

Base sequences found within the transcribed regions of many eukaryotic genes that interrupt the coding sequence of these genes.
They are transcribed, but they are removed after transcription.

Question 19

How many strands are transcribed to create RNA?

Answer 19

Only one of two strands

Question 20

What is the name of the strand being transcribed?

Answer 20

Template strand
Antisense strand

Question 21

What is the name of the strand that is not being transcribed?

Answer 21

Non-template strand
Coding strand
Sense strand

Question 22

What is the relationship between the TEMPLATE strand sequence and the RNA sequence transcribed from it?

Answer 22

They are complementary to each other

Question 23

What is the relationship between the CODING strand sequence and the RNA sequence transcribed from it?

Answer 23

They are similar. Basically the same, but in the coding strand, each T is changed into a U.

Question 24

What is the promoter?

Answer 24

A region of a gene that is not transcribed.
It acts to regulate the transcription of the transcribed region.

Question 25

What is RNA polymerase?

Answer 25

An enzyme that synthesizes RNA

Question 26

In eukaryotic cells, what proteins can bind to the promoter? What is the result?

Answer 26

Transcription factors bind to the promoter to either aid or inhibit the activity of RNA pol

Question 27

What are general transcription factors?

Answer 27

Proteins that are necessary for the binding of RNA pol to the promoter

Question 28

What are general transcription factors involved in?

Answer 28

They are always involved in transcription Transcription cannot occur without general transcription factors

Question 29

What are regulatory transcription factors?

Answer 29

Proteins that regulate the rate of transcription

Question 30

What are the two types of regulatory transcription factors?

Answer 30

Activators and repressors

Question 31

What are activators?

Answer 31

They increase the rate of transcription, increasing the amount of product created

Question 32

What are repressors?

Answer 32

Decrease the rate of transcription, decreasing the amount of product created

Question 33

What sequences do activators bind to?

Answer 33

Enhancer sequences

Question 34

What sequences do repressors bind to?

Answer 34

Silencer sequences

Question 35

How are individual ribonucleotides linked?

Answer 35

They are linked by phosphodiester bonds to form a strand

Question 36

What are the the different types of RNA?

Answer 36

mRNA (messenger) tRNA (transfer) rRNA (ribosomal) snRNA (small nuclear)

Question 37

With the exception of mRNA, what are the different types of RNAs considered to be?

Answer 37

Non-coding RNAs

Question 38

What can be done to only mRNA?

Answer 38

Only mRNA is translated into a polypeptide

Question 39

Which RNAs are found in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?

Answer 39

tRNA, rRNA, and mRNA

Question 40

Which RNA is found ONLY in eukaryotic cells?

Answer 40

snRNA

Question 41

What is the role of snRNA?

Answer 41

It has a role in the removal of introns from RNA and in the splicing together of the remaining portions of the RNA