Genetic Transformation and DNA Evidence

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Questions and Answers

What discovery did Griffith make in 1927?

  • The phenomenon of bacterial transformation (correct)
  • The structural composition of proteins
  • The process of DNA replication
  • The function of ribosomal RNA

What did Hershey and Chase's experiment demonstrate?

  • DNA is the genetic material (correct)
  • Viruses cannot infect bacteria
  • RNA is less stable than DNA
  • Proteins carry genetic information

What is the role of tRNA during protein synthesis?

  • To transcribe DNA into mRNA
  • To carry specific amino acids to mRNA (correct)
  • To synthesize DNA
  • To form the structural components of ribosomes

How many chromosomes are found in human somatic cells?

<p>46 (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of DNA helicase during DNA replication?

<p>To break hydrogen bonds between DNA strands (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following correctly describes the Watson and Crick model of DNA?

<p>Twisted double helix with complementary base pairing (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens during the process of transcription?

<p>DNA is transcribed into mRNA (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which base pairs are connected by double hydrogen bonds in DNA?

<p>A-T (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of ribosomal RNA (rRNA)?

<p>Making up the structure of ribosomes (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of semiconservative DNA replication?

<p>Each new DNA molecule consists of one original and one new strand (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic of RNA is true for messenger RNA (mRNA)?

<p>It is synthesized from a DNA template. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of DNA ligase in the DNA replication process?

<p>It repairs DNA and joins nucleotides together. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes the structure of DNA based on Watson and Crick's model?

<p>DNA has two strands arranged in a double helix and is anti-parallel. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of the start codon in protein synthesis?

<p>It specifies the first amino acid of the polypeptide chain. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do Meselson and Stahl's findings about DNA replication suggest?

<p>DNA is replicated in a semiconservative fashion. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Bacterial Transformation and Genetic Material

  • Griffith (1927) identified bacterial transformation, where bacteria can change their genetic makeup by taking in foreign DNA from other bacteria.
  • Avery's team provided experimental support that DNA is the genetic material.

DNA and Inheritance Studies

  • Hershey and Chase (1952) demonstrated that DNA, not proteins, serves as the molecule of inheritance by tagging bacteriophages with radioactive isotopes 32P (DNA) and 35S (proteins).
  • Rosalind Franklin utilized X-ray diffraction to show that DNA has a double helix structure.
  • Meselson and Stahl (1953) confirmed that DNA replicates in a semiconservative manner, supporting Watson and Crick's model.

Types and Functions of RNA

  • Messenger RNA (mRNA): synthesized from DNA during transcription, carries genetic information.
  • Transfer RNA (tRNA): transports specific amino acids to the ribosome for polypeptide formation during translation.
  • Ribosomal RNA (rRNA): structural component of ribosomes.

Chromosomes and Their Characteristics

  • Chromosomes: Coiled DNA associated with histone proteins.
  • Haploid (N): Contains one set of chromosomes found in sex cells (e.g., sperm and egg).
    • Example: Sperm has 22 autosomes + X or Y chromosome; egg has 22 autosomes + X chromosome.
  • Diploid (2N): Contains two sets of chromosomes in somatic (body) cells.
    • Common examples: kidney, liver, brain, and skin cells.
  • Humans have 46 chromosomes in somatic cells, arranged as follows:
    • Females: 44 autosomes + XX sex chromosomes.
    • Males: 44 autosomes + XY sex chromosomes.
  • Karyotype: A visual representation of chromosomes arranged by size during metaphase.

Watson-Crick DNA Model

  • DNA structure: Resembles a twisted ladder (double helix).
  • Nitrogen bases pair through weak hydrogen bonds:
    • Adenine (A) pairs with Thymine (T) through double hydrogen bonds.
    • Cytosine (C) pairs with Guanine (G) through triple hydrogen bonds.
  • The two DNA strands are complementary and anti-parallel.

DNA Replication

  • Process of DNA duplication involves several enzymes:
    • DNA Helicase: Unwinds DNA by breaking hydrogen bonds between strands.
    • DNA Polymerase: Synthesizes new DNA strands by adding nucleotides in a 5' to 3' direction; also repairs DNA.
    • DNA Ligase: Joins nucleotides together to form a continuous DNA strand.

Protein Synthesis

  • Transcription: Process where DNA is transcribed into RNA.
    • RNA polymerase binds to a promoter, assembling nucleotides to form mRNA.
  • Codons: Three-nucleotide sequences in mRNA that code for specific amino acids; the start codon is AUG.
  • Stop codons: UAA, UAG, UGA signal termination of protein synthesis.
  • Splicing: Involves removing introns (non-coding regions) from pre-mRNA to produce mature mRNA.

Bacterial Transformation and Genetic Material

  • Griffith (1927) identified bacterial transformation, where bacteria can change their genetic makeup by taking in foreign DNA from other bacteria.
  • Avery's team provided experimental support that DNA is the genetic material.

DNA and Inheritance Studies

  • Hershey and Chase (1952) demonstrated that DNA, not proteins, serves as the molecule of inheritance by tagging bacteriophages with radioactive isotopes 32P (DNA) and 35S (proteins).
  • Rosalind Franklin utilized X-ray diffraction to show that DNA has a double helix structure.
  • Meselson and Stahl (1953) confirmed that DNA replicates in a semiconservative manner, supporting Watson and Crick's model.

Types and Functions of RNA

  • Messenger RNA (mRNA): synthesized from DNA during transcription, carries genetic information.
  • Transfer RNA (tRNA): transports specific amino acids to the ribosome for polypeptide formation during translation.
  • Ribosomal RNA (rRNA): structural component of ribosomes.

Chromosomes and Their Characteristics

  • Chromosomes: Coiled DNA associated with histone proteins.
  • Haploid (N): Contains one set of chromosomes found in sex cells (e.g., sperm and egg).
    • Example: Sperm has 22 autosomes + X or Y chromosome; egg has 22 autosomes + X chromosome.
  • Diploid (2N): Contains two sets of chromosomes in somatic (body) cells.
    • Common examples: kidney, liver, brain, and skin cells.
  • Humans have 46 chromosomes in somatic cells, arranged as follows:
    • Females: 44 autosomes + XX sex chromosomes.
    • Males: 44 autosomes + XY sex chromosomes.
  • Karyotype: A visual representation of chromosomes arranged by size during metaphase.

Watson-Crick DNA Model

  • DNA structure: Resembles a twisted ladder (double helix).
  • Nitrogen bases pair through weak hydrogen bonds:
    • Adenine (A) pairs with Thymine (T) through double hydrogen bonds.
    • Cytosine (C) pairs with Guanine (G) through triple hydrogen bonds.
  • The two DNA strands are complementary and anti-parallel.

DNA Replication

  • Process of DNA duplication involves several enzymes:
    • DNA Helicase: Unwinds DNA by breaking hydrogen bonds between strands.
    • DNA Polymerase: Synthesizes new DNA strands by adding nucleotides in a 5' to 3' direction; also repairs DNA.
    • DNA Ligase: Joins nucleotides together to form a continuous DNA strand.

Protein Synthesis

  • Transcription: Process where DNA is transcribed into RNA.
    • RNA polymerase binds to a promoter, assembling nucleotides to form mRNA.
  • Codons: Three-nucleotide sequences in mRNA that code for specific amino acids; the start codon is AUG.
  • Stop codons: UAA, UAG, UGA signal termination of protein synthesis.
  • Splicing: Involves removing introns (non-coding regions) from pre-mRNA to produce mature mRNA.

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