Genes and Protein Synthesis

Flashcards generated from lecture notes on genes, mutations, protein synthesis, and related concepts.

What is a Triplet?

A sequence of 3 DNA bases that code for a specific amino acid.

What are the features of the genetic code?

Universal, degenerate, and non-overlapping.

What is a universal genetic code?

The same triplet codes for the same amino acid in all organisms.

What is a degenerate genetic code?

More than one triplet codes for the same amino acid.

What is a non-overlapping genetic code?

Each nucleotide is only part of one triplet.

What are Introns?

Non-coding base sequences within genes.

What are Exons?

Base sequences that code for sequences of amino acids.

What is a Gene?

Base sequence of DNA that codes for the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide or functional RNA.

What is a Locus?

The fixed position of a gene on a DNA molecule.

What is a Genome?

The complete set of genes in a cell.

What is a Proteome?

The full range of proteins a cell is able to produce.

What is a Gene mutation?

Change in the base sequence of a chromosome.

What are Mutagenic agents?

Outside factors that increase the rate of mutations.

What is Base deletion?

Occurs when a nucleotide is removed from a DNA sequence, causing a frameshift.

What is a Frameshift?

A change to the sequence of triplets due to base deletion.

What is Base substitution?

When a base is swapped out for a different one, affecting a single triplet.

What is RNA?

Ribonucleic acid.

What are RNA nucleotides?

Pentose sugar is ribose, bases are A, C, G, Uracil.

What is mRNA?

Single strand, carries information from the nucleus to ribosomes for protein synthesis.

What is RNA polymerase?

Breaks H bonds between nucleotides, exposing them.

What is pre-mRNA?

A strand of RNA that is complementary to the DNA strand being transcribed.

What is Splicing?

The process of removing introns and attaching exons together in pre-mRNA.

What is a Codon?

A set of 3 bases on mRNA that codes for an amino acid.

What is an Anticodon?

A sequence of 3 bases on a tRNA molecule that is complementary to a codon on mRNA.

tRNA

Molecules that carry amino acids and have anticodons