General Genetics Overview

Study Notes

General Genetics Study Notes

Different types of mutations include base pair substitutions, silent mutations, frameshift mutations, and intron mutations. Frameshift mutations have the most significant impact on protein synthesis compared to others.
DNA polymerase I is a DNA repair enzyme, not involved in DNA replication.
DNA polymerase III is responsible for DNA replication, not termination in transcription.
Telomerase is the enzyme responsible for preventing chromosome shortening and limited cell division.
Specific sequences (promoters) on the DNA template regulate transcription in eukaryotes as well as prokaryotes.
DNA replicates using a semi-conservative method.
Amino acids are encoded unambiguously by codons, and each codon encodes only one amino acid. The same genetic code applies across most organisms.
RNA polymerase is essential for transcription, binding to the promoter region to initiate transcription.
Okazaki fragments are produced during the lagging strand synthesis, they are short DNA fragments.
B-DNA is the most common configuration of the double helix in the cell.
Thomas Hunt Morgan proposed the linkage theory of inheritance.
Nucleotide is a subunit of DNA composed of a sugar, phosphate, and a base.
Sigma factor is a part of the transcription initiation process.
Translation is the process of protein synthesis from mRNA.
Rho protein stops transcription but not in prokaryotes.
DNA primase is part of the replication process.
Gyrase plays a role in DNA replication.
SSB proteins maintain DNA stability and help in replication.
RNA polymerase I is responsible for transcribing tRNA and rRNA in eukaryotes.
Splicing removes non-coding portions from the mRNA.
Capping and splicing modification are part of mRNA maturation.
Transcriptional factors are proteins that regulate transcription in eukaryotes.
Mutations are changes to the DNA sequence and can have various effects.
Spontaneous mutations occur randomly due to errors in DNA replication.

More Detailed Study Notes

Spontaneous mutations occur randomly and are not purposeful. The processes involved in DNA replication create errors that produce mutations.
Cloning vectors share common properties, including the ability to replicate autonomously independent of the host chromosome. Plasmids are used primarily as cloning vectors.
Spontaneous mutations are changes in DNA that occur randomly due to errors in replication.
Gene expression can be regulated at various levels (transcription, translation, etc.) One example is the lac operon which regulates gene expression in response to the presence or absence of lactose.
DNA replication in eukaryotes is bidirectional, unlike in prokaryotes.
DNA repair mechanisms exist to correct errors created in replication. -Mutations can be spontaneous, induced by mutagens, or a combination of both.
Gene cloning is a process used to create multiple copies of a specific gene.
Different biosafety levels must have different practices to handle organisms and chemicals, with level 4 requiring specific protective gear and environments.