Molecular basis of inheritance
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Questions and Answers

What is the relationship between the sequence of bases in DNA and genetic information?

The sequence of bases in DNA determines the genetic information of an organism.

What is the name of the process that copies genetic information from one strand of DNA into RNA?

Transcription

Which of the following is a key factor that contributes to the stability of the DNA double helix?

  • Hydrogen bonding between complementary base pairs
  • The hydrophobic interactions between the bases
  • The electrostatic interactions between the sugar-phosphate backbone
  • All of the above (correct)

    • What is the name of the process in which a protein is synthesized based on the information encoded in mRNA?

    <p>Translation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the enzyme that catalyzes the replication of DNA?

    <p>DNA polymerase</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the region in DNA where replication originates?

    <p>Origin of replication</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the three major types of RNA found in bacteria?

    <p>mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the non-coding sequences that interrupt the coding sequences in eukaryotic genes?

    <p>Introns</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the process by which introns are removed from pre-mRNA?

    <p>Splicing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the process by which amino acids are linked together to form a polypeptide chain?

    <p>Translation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the cellular factory responsible for protein synthesis?

    <p>Ribosome</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the process by which the expression of genes is regulated?

    <p>Gene regulation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the operon in bacteria that regulates the metabolism of lactose?

    <p>Lac operon</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the three structural genes in the lac operon?

    <p>The three structural genes in the lac operon are z, y, and a.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the protein that binds to the operator region of the lac operon and prevents transcription?

    <p>Lac repressor</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the molecule that acts as an inducer for the lac operon?

    <p>Lactose</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the technique used to identify differences in DNA sequences, particularly in the repetitive sequences of DNA?

    <p>DNA fingerprinting</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the short tandem repeats (STRs) also known as?

    <p>Microsatellites</p> Signup and view all the answers

    DNA fingerprinting can be used for paternity testing.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    DNA fingerprinting can only be performed on DNA samples from blood.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the large-scale international project that aimed to map the entire human genome?

    <p>Human Genome Project (HGP)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the approximate number of genes estimated to be present in the human genome?

    <p>20,000-25,000 genes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the approximate size of the human genome, expressed in base pairs?

    <p>3 billion base pairs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the field of biology that deals with the storage, retrieval, and analysis of biological data, particularly genetic data?

    <p>Bioinformatics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Human Genome Project has had a significant impact on the field of medicine.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The human genome contains very little repetitive DNA.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and what is their importance in human genetics?

    <p>Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are variations in a single nucleotide at a specific location in the genome. They are widespread in the human genome and play a significant role in individual differences, disease susceptibility, and population genetics studies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Human Genome Project has completely solved all mysteries about human biology.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the process by which a double-stranded DNA molecule is replicated into two identical DNA molecules, each containing one original strand and one newly synthesized strand?

    <p>Semiconservative replication</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the process by which the genetic code carried by mRNA is used to guide the synthesis of proteins?

    <p>Translation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the region in DNA that contains the sequence of bases that codes for a particular protein?

    <p>Gene</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the process by which a segment of DNA is copied into a molecule of RNA?

    <p>Transcription</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the region in DNA that is the site of binding for RNA polymerase, the enzyme that initiates transcription?

    <p>Promoter</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the region in DNA that signals the end of a gene and therefore marks the end of transcription?

    <p>Terminator</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the type of RNA that carries amino acids to the ribosomes during translation?

    <p>Transfer RNA (tRNA)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the type of RNA that forms part of the ribosome, which is the site of protein synthesis?

    <p>Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    RNA is more stable than DNA.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the theory that suggests that RNA may have been the first form of genetic material in early life?

    <p>RNA world hypothesis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of a group of genes that are regulated together and located in adjacent positions on a chromosome?

    <p>Operon</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is "polymorphism" in terms of human genetics?

    <p>Polymorphism in human genetics refers to the existence of multiple variations or alleles of a gene within a population. These variations often occur in non-coding regions of DNA and are usually harmless.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is "DNA fingerprinting"?

    <p>DNA fingerprinting is a technique that uses differences in the length of repetitive DNA sequences, called variable number tandem repeats (VNTRs), to identify individuals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is "bioinformatics"?

    <p>Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that combines biology, computer science, and statistics to analyze and interpret biological data, particularly genetic data. It involves developing and applying computational tools and algorithms to manage, analyze, and interpret complex biological data sets.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Molecular Basis of Inheritance

    • Inheritance patterns and genetic basis were unclear in Mendel's time
    • DNA was discovered as the genetic material for most organisms
    • Nucleic acids are polymers of nucleotides
    • DNA and RNA are two types of nucleic acids
    • DNA is the genetic material in most organisms; RNA is genetic material in some viruses and has other functions (messenger, adapter, structural, and catalytic)

    DNA Structure

    • DNA is a long polymer of deoxyribonucleotides
    • Nucleotides have three components: a nitrogenous base (purine or pyrimidine), a pentose sugar (deoxyribose), and a phosphate group
    • Bases are linked to the sugar through N-glycosidic linkages; phosphate group linked to the sugar through phosphoester linkages
    • Nucleotides are linked together through 3'-5' phosphodiester linkages to form polynucleotide chains.
    • A DNA molecule has two strands in a double helix arrangement; strands are antiparallel (5' to 3' and 3' to 5') with the bases paired through hydrogen bonds
    • Adenine pairs with thymine (2 H-bonds); guanine pairs with cytosine (3 H-bonds)
    • The distance between bases is approximately 0.34 nm
    • The helix has a pitch of about 3.4 nm
    • There are roughly 10 base pairs per turn in the double helix

    DNA Replication

    • DNA replication is semi-conservative. Each new DNA molecule has one old strand and one new strand
    • DNA polymerase enzymes catalyse replication. Replication occurs in a defined direction (5' to 3')
    • Replication fork is the area where the DNA double helix separates to allow replication. Replication is continuous on one strand and discontinuous on the other.

    Transcription

    • The process of copying genetic information from one strand of DNA into RNA (specifically mRNA) is called transcription
    • RNA polymerase is the main enzyme in transcription
    • The process involves initiation (RNA polymerase binds to the promoter), elongation (polymerisation), and termination (RNA polymerase reaches terminator)
    • RNA is single-stranded; uracil replaces thymine in base pairing

    Genetic Code

    • The genetic code is triplet (three bases code for one amino acid). The code is degenerate (multiple codons code for same amino acid)
    • The genetic code is nearly universal (with few exceptions)

    Mutations

    • Mutations are changes in the DNA sequence
    • Point mutations (insertions or deletions) may impact amino acid sequences in proteins

    tRNA and Translation

    • tRNA is an adapter molecule that helps bring amino acids to the ribosome
    • Translation involves the process of mRNA to protein synthesis.
    • Translation uses mRNA as a template for amino acid sequence

    Gene Regulation

    • Gene expression is regulated at various levels in eukaryotes, including: transcription, processing, transport of mRNA, and translation.

    Lac Operon

    • The lac operon is a system of genes in bacteria that regulates the metabolism of lactose
    • The lac operon is under both negative and positive control

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