BioTech Week 2

What is the basic structure of DNA and where is it located in the cell?

Anti-parallel double helix in the nucelus

What is the difference between DNA and RNA?

DNA is double-stranded & found in the nucleus of cells.

RNA is a single-stranded & found in the nucleus and cytoplasm, involved in protein synthesis.

DNA uses the bases A, T, C, and G.

RNA uses A, U, C, and G, with uracil (U)

DNA is more stable and long-lasting

RNA is more versatile and can have various functions, such as messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA).

Which is the proper directionality to record a sequence of DNA?

5’ to 3’

What is Dr. Rosalind’s Franklin’s role in the discovery of the double helix?

Her X-ray crystallography images provided crucial evidence for the structure of DNA, revealing its helical nature and spacing of its bases. Her work greatly influenced the understanding of DNA's structure and laid the foundation for Watson and Crick's model.

The Central Dogma

Process that explains how genetic information flows from DNA to RNA to protein. DNA is transcribed into RNA in the nucleus, then the RNA is translated into protein in the cytoplasm

True or False: the “scientific method” is not static, and science doesn’t exist in a vacuum.

True

What is the basic unit of DNA and what is it made up of?

A nucleotide - made up of a phosphate, deoxyribose sugar, and a base

What are the four bases in DNA NOT RNA?

Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, Guanine

Phosphodiester Bonds connect to form what?

Phosphate Backbone

Which nitrogen bases bind to what?

A -T

C -G

What is the name of the thing that the DNA strand wraps around of bunch of and eventually forms the chromosome?

Histone

What type of bond exists between nucleotides?

Hydrogen

How many chromosomes pairs are in somatic cells? Gamete?

23 Pairs - somatic

23 individual - gamete

What is the path of gene expression?

DNA —> RNA —> Protein —> makes something useful to the cell

Helicase

Unzips DNA strands

DNA Dependent Polymerase Role?

adds complemental nucleotides to growing strand

RNA Primer Role?

starting point for DNA polymerase to add nucleotides

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

by adding DNA polymerase primers, and nucleotides, DNA replication processes can be replicated to make billions of copies in a few hours.

• can be used for molecular cloning or sequencing

Introns vs Exons

introns — non coding

exons — coding

Coding Strand vs Template Strand

Coding Strand: The strand of DNA that has the same sequence as the mRNA, except with thymine (T) instead of uracil (U).

Template Strand: The strand of DNA that is used as a guide during transcription to synthesize mRNA. It has a complementary sequence to the mRNA, with adenine (A) pairing with uracil (U) instead of thymine (T).

Codon

A sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that codes for a specific amino acid or serves as a start/stop signal for protein synthesis.

Characteristics of A Virus

• acellular (no cytoplasm or organelles)

• core of genetic material (RNA or DNA)

• capsid (protein shell to protect the core)

• not alive

What are the five stages of the viral life cycle in a host cell?

1. Attachment

2. Entry

3. Replication & Gene Expression

4. Assembly

5. Release

What are the four stages of the viral life cycle in an individual?

1. Exposure

2. Infection

3. Illness

4. Spread

Describe the Anatomy used by the SARS-CoV2 virus (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2)

Made of capsid proteins

• spike protein

• membrane protein

• envelope protein

• nuclueocapid protein

RNA Genetic Material

Lipid Membrane (not all viruses have it)

Compare & Contrast the benefits of different Viral Classification

• Structure

• Symptoms

• Genomics

• Replication Mode

  • type of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA)

  • # of strands (single or double)

  • Sence (+ or -)

Antivirals

treatment that targets the viral life cycle at the host cell level

What are the other names for coding and template strand?

Coding - sense strand

Template - antisence

Describe the Replication Strategy used by the SARS-CoV2 virus (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2)

1. Attachment, entry, and disassembly of virion

2. Translate portion of ssRNA(+) genome into RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) and other necessary proteins —> Spike proteins, other structural proteins

3. Use the RdRP to make a complimentary strand of RNA (-) then ue it again to convert it back to (RNA+) ——> do this many times to create many copies of the RNA genome and keep translating it

*viruses have to encode its own RNA-dependent RNA polymerase because our cells don’t make it

When a virion enters a cell, what ae the two main goals it needs to accomplish to successfully make new copies of itself?

1. replicate its genetic code

2. create necessary proteins from its genetic code