5 Questions
Define satellite DNA and its main components.
Satellite DNA consists of very large arrays of tandemly repeating, non-coding DNA. It is the main component of functional centromere and forms the main structural constituent of heterochromatin.
What is the significance of the name 'satellite DNA'?
The name 'satellite DNA' refers to how repetitions of a short DNA sequence tend to produce a different frequency of the nucleotides and thus have a different density from bulk DNA, forming a second or 'satellite' band when genomic DNA is separated on a density gradient.
What are the types of satellite DNA in humans and their locations?
The types of satellite DNA in humans are α (alphoid DNA) located on all chromosomes, β located on most chromosomes, Satellite 1 located on centromeres of chromosomes 1, 9, 13, 14, 15, 21, 22 and Y, and Satellite 2 and Satellite 3 located on most chromosomes.
What is the range of length for a repeated pattern in satellite DNA, and where is most satellite DNA localized?
A repeated pattern can be between 1 base pair long (a mononucleotide repeat) to several thousand base pairs long. Most satellite DNA is localized to the telomeric or the centromeric region of the chromosome.
How are microsatellites thought to have originated?
Microsatellites are thought to have originated by polymerase slippage during DNA replication.
Test your knowledge on satellite DNA, a type of non-coding DNA that forms large arrays of tandemly repeating sequences. Learn about its role in centromeres and heterochromatin, as well as its unique nucleotide frequency and density.
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