Topic 4: Genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms Flashcards
(215 cards)
`why is the genetic code described as universal
each triplet codes for the same amino acid in all organisms
prokaryotic DNA
-short
-circular
-not associated with proteins
eukaryotic DNA
-long
-linear
-associated with proteins called histones
-forms chromosomes
-mitochondria and chloroplasts contains prokaryotic DNA
what do genes code for
A gene is a sequence of DNA bases that code for..:
-amino acid sequence of a polypeptide
-a functional RNA
what is a gene
sequence of DNA bases that codes for a specific sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide
triplet
A sequence of three DNA bases is called a triplet
A triplet codes for a specific amino acid. The genetic code is universal, non-overlapping and degenerate
degenerate
most amino acids are coded for by more than one triplet
non overlapping
each base in an exon is only read once
universal
each triplet codes for the same amino acid in all organisms
what is the fixed position which a gene occupies on a DNA molecule
locus/loci
gene coding
A gene includes coding exons and non-coding introns sections of DNA
How many bases code for a polypeptide of 24 amino acids
24 x 3 = 72
Explain how a change in sequence of DNA bases could result in a non-functional enzyme
-change in sequence of amino acids
-change in bonding of tertiary structure so shape of active site is altered
-no enzyme substrate complexes can be formed
Give two differences between the structure of mRNA and the structure of tRNA
-tRNA is clover shaped whereas mRNA is straight chained
-tRNA is only 80 bases (short) whereas mRNA is longer
-mRNA has no paired bases whereas tRNA does
describe how mRNA is produced from an exposed template strand of DNA
-free RNA nucleotides form complimentary base pairs
-phosphodiester bonds form by action of RNA polymerase
Describe how mRNA is formed by transcription in eukaryotes
-hydrogen bonds break between complimentary base pairs of DNA molecule by DNA helicase
-one DNA strand acts as a template
-free RNA nucleotides align by complimentary base pairings
-uracil replaced thymine
-RNA polymerase joins adjacent nucleotides by phosphodiester bonds
-pMRNA is spliced
what is a codon
sequence of 3 bases on mRNA that codes for a single amino acid
anticodon
a sequence of three nucleotides forming a unit of genetic code in a transfer RNA molecule, corresponding to a complementary codon in messenger RNA.
true or false - in eukaryotic cells is only where pre-mRNA is formed
true
introns
Introns –> sections of DNA that do not code for a polypeptide chain (protein)
exons
sections of DNA that code for a polypeptide chain (protein)
genome
-genome –> complete set of genes in an organism
proteome
-proteome –> full range of proteins produced by the genome
RNA
RNA –> single stranded, short, uracil replaces thymine, RNA polymerase, ribose pentose sugar