DNA Replication Quiz

Frederick Griffith discovered that a chemical substance within bacteria could be transferred from one bacterium to another, causing a change in its characteristics. This discovery hinted at the nature of genetic material.

Oswald Avery and his team aimed to isolate the specific molecule responsible for bacterial transformation. They wanted to determine whether DNA, RNA, or protein was the carrier of genetic information.

A phage is a virus that infects bacteria. It consists of a protein coat surrounding genetic material (DNA or RNA) and uses the host bacterium's machinery to replicate itself.

DNA is responsible for storing, copying, and transmitting genetic information. This includes instructions defining an organism's characteristics and ensuring their accurate transfer to offspring.

Transformation is the process where bacteria permanently changes its characteristics by acquiring genetic material from another bacterium, often through the uptake of DNA fragments.

Nucleotides are the building blocks of DNA. Each nucleotide consists of a nitrogenous base, a sugar molecule, and a phosphate group.

The four nitrogenous bases in DNA are adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T).

Purines (Adenine and Guanine) have larger, double-ring structures, while pyrimidines (Cytosine and Thymine) have smaller, single-ring structures.

Chargaff's Rule states that the amount of adenine (A) in DNA is always equal to the amount of thymine (T), and the amount of guanine (G) is always equal to the amount of cytosine (C).

DNA has a double helix structure, with two strands of nucleotides running in opposite directions (antiparallel) and held together by hydrogen bonds between the bases.

The process of copying a DNA molecule into two identical daughter molecules. This is essential for cell division, as it ensures each daughter cell receives a complete set of genetic instructions.

During DNA replication, each new DNA molecule consists of one parental strand and one newly synthesized strand. This means half of the original molecule is conserved in each daughter molecule.

An enzyme that adds new nucleotides to a growing DNA strand, following the base pairing rules. It's responsible for building the new DNA molecule during replication.

An enzyme that joins the fragments of DNA into a continuous strand. It's like the glue that holds the newly synthesized DNA together.

Protective caps at the ends of chromosomes. These regions are difficult to replicate completely, causing them to shorten slightly with each cell division.

RNA transcription is the process where DNA's genetic information is copied into RNA. It's like making a photocopy of the blueprint.

1. RNA uses ribose sugar, while DNA uses deoxyribose. 2. RNA is usually single-stranded, while DNA is double-stranded. 3. RNA has uracil instead of thymine found in DNA.

Messenger RNA (mRNA) carries genetic information from DNA to ribosomes. Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) forms part of the ribosomes, which are protein factories. Transfer RNA (tRNA) brings specific amino acids to the ribosomes for protein assembly.

Promoters are specific DNA sequences that signal where RNA polymerase should bind to begin RNA synthesis. They act like start buttons for the copying process.

Introns are non-coding RNA sections removed during RNA editing. Exons are the remaining coding sections spliced together to form mature mRNA.

A codon is a sequence of three consecutive nucleotides in mRNA that codes for a specific amino acid. It's like a three-letter word in the genetic code dictionary.

You would need 12 nucleotides in total, forming 4 codons. Each codon requires 3 nucleotides, so 4 amino acids need 4 * 3 = 12 nucleotides.

The genetic code is a set of rules used by living cells to translate the information in DNA and RNA into proteins. It's like a universal language for protein synthesis.

mRNA carries genetic information from DNA in the nucleus to ribosomes in the cytoplasm, where it directs the synthesis of proteins.

tRNA acts as a translator, carrying specific amino acids to the ribosome and matching them to the corresponding mRNA codon.

Helicase is an enzyme that unwinds and separates the two strands of the DNA double helix by breaking the hydrogen bonds between the nitrogenous base pairs, creating a replication fork.

DNA polymerase is an enzyme that reads the existing DNA strand and synthesizes a new complementary strand by adding nucleotides to the growing DNA chain, ensuring the correct base pairing.

Primase is an enzyme that synthesizes a short RNA primer, providing a starting point for DNA polymerase to begin adding nucleotides, as DNA polymerase cannot initiate a new strand on its own.

Ligase is an enzyme that joins the fragments of DNA, called Okazaki fragments, together to form a continuous strand after DNA polymerase has replicated the lagging strand.

Transcription is the process of copying the genetic code from DNA into mRNA (messenger RNA), while translation is the process of using the mRNA code to build a protein from amino acids.

A three-nucleotide sequence on tRNA that binds to a complementary codon on mRNA during translation, bringing the correct amino acid to the growing polypeptide chain.

A three-nucleotide sequence on mRNA that codes for a specific amino acid during translation.

Genes that control the development of specific body structures in particular locations along the body axis.

A type of homeotic gene that specifies the identity of different body segments during embryonic development.

Permanent alterations in the DNA sequence of a gene, which can lead to changes in protein function.

tRNA acts as a carrier for amino acids, bringing them to the ribosome to be added to the growing polypeptide chain. It recognizes specific mRNA codons through base pairing with its anticodon, ensuring the correct amino acid is incorporated into the protein.

The anticodon on tRNA is a sequence of three nucleotides that binds to a complementary codon on mRNA through base pairing rules. This interaction ensures that the correct amino acid is brought to the ribosome for protein synthesis.

Stop codons are special codons within mRNA that do not code for any amino acid. Instead, they signal the termination of translation, causing the ribosome to release the newly synthesized protein.

Elongation involves the sequential addition of amino acids to the growing polypeptide chain. tRNA molecules, carrying their respective amino acids, bind to the mRNA codons in the ribosome. The polypeptide chain lengthens as the ribosome moves along the mRNA.

Ribosomes act as the protein synthesis machines. They bind to mRNA and provide a platform for the tRNA molecules to bring amino acids and assemble them into a polypeptide chain. During translation, the ribosome moves along the mRNA, reading the codons one by one.