test 3 rev

Question 1

describes the passing of genetic info from parent to child through genes

Answer 1

heredity

Question 2

a distinguishing quality or characteristic

Answer 2

trait

Question 3

unit of heredity/ determines some characteristics of the offspring

Answer 3

gene

Question 4

structure found inside nucleus of cell

Answer 4

chromosome

Question 5

building blocks of DNA double helix

Answer 5

base pair

Question 6

explain why DNA replication is semi-conservative

Answer 6

because of the process of replication, where the resulting double helix is composed of both an old strand and a new strand

each strand of the double helix DNA would serve as a template for synthesis of a new strand.

Question 7

what is the function of telomeres

Answer 7

repeating sequence of DNA at the end of a chromosome that protects coding regions from being lost during replication
-prevents chromosome ends from fusing to other chromosomes
-assists DNA repair mechanisms

Question 8

one gene one polypeptide hypothesis

Answer 8

-the hypothesis that one gene codes for one protein (polypeptide)

Question 9

what is the central dogma of DNA

Answer 9

principle that genetic info flows from DNA to RNA to proteins

Question 10

transcription

Answer 10

mechanism by which info coded in nucleic acids of DNA is copied into nucleic acids of RNA

-info coded in DNA is transcribed into a complementary RNA copy

(something rewritten in same language)

Question 11

translation

Answer 11

info coded in the nucleic acids of RNA is copied into the amino acids of proteins

-assembly of amino acids into a polypeptide using info encoded in the RNA

(changing from one language into another)

Question 12

base pairs in RNA

Answer 12

A+U and C+G

Question 13

mRNA function

Answer 13

-varies in length depending on gene being copied
-acts as the intermediary b/w DNA and ribosomes
-translated into protein by ribosomes

Question 14

tRNA function

Answer 14

-delivery system of amino acids to ribosomes as they synthesize proteins

Question 15

rRNA function

Answer 15

-binds with proteins to form the ribosomes

Question 16

what is a codon and how is it used?

Answer 16

-group of 3 base pairs that code for an individual amino acid
-5’ to 3’ order in mRNA

Question 17

start codon (AUG)

Answer 17

codon signals start of a polypeptide chain and initiates translation

Question 18

stop codon (UAA, UAG, UGA)

Answer 18

codon signals end of a polypeptide and causes ribosomes to end

Question 19

explain function of TATA box

Answer 19

region of the promoter that enables the binding of RNA polymers

-contains Adenine and Thymine
-DNA sequence that says where a genetic sequence can be read and decoded
-makes it easier to unwind DNA

Question 20

why are post-transcriptional modifications useful

Answer 20

pre-mRNA is vulnerable to enzymes and conditions outside the nucleus and must undergo additional modifications before it can exit the nucleus and reach ribosomes