Chapter 11 DNA and the Language of Life

Gene

A section of DNA that codes for a specific polypeptide

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid)

Stores the genetic information of an organism

Nucleotides

Building blocks of nucleic acids

What are the 3 parts of a nucleotide?

A sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogen containing base (A,T,C,G)

What are the four nitorgenous bases?

Adenine, Thymine, Guanine, and Cytosine

What is the double helix?

2 twisted strands (twisted ladder), sugar-phosphate backbone on the outside, and nitrogenous bases on the inside (rungs)

What are the complimentary bases?

"A" always bonds with "T" (Adenine and Thymine) and "C" always bonds with "G" (Cytosine and Gunaine)

Hydrogen bonds

A weak bond that forms between the complimentary base pairs

Why does replication occur?

When cells are preparing to divide, a copy of DNA must be made

In which part of the cell cycle does replication occur?

Synthesis

What materials are needed for replication?

DNA-template, nucleotides, and enzymes

What are the steps of replication?

Untwist and unzip, nucleotides pair up, and retwisting

What are the results of replication?

1 parent DNA forms 2 daughter DNA molecules that are identical

DNA to RNA to Protein

DNA code - (transcription) - mRNA code - (translation) - polypeptide, amino acid sequence: shape determines function

Where does transcription occur and what is produced?

It occurs in the nucleus and RNA is produced.

Where does translation occur and what is produced?

It occurs in the cytoplasm/endoplasmic reticulum and a polypeptide is produced

What are the 3 types of RNA (ribonucleic acid)?

rRna (ribosomal), mRNA (messenger), and tRNA (transfer)

What type of strands, nitrogenous bases, sugars, building blocks, and does it leave the nucleus does DNA have?

Double stranded, A,T, C, G, deoxyribose, nucleotides, and no it does not leave the nucleus because it's too big

What type of strands, nitrogenous bases, sugars, building blocks, and does it leave the nucleus does RNA have?

Single stranded, A, U, G, C, ribose, nucleotides, and yes it does leave the nucleus; it's small enough to fit through nucleic pores

What is transcription?

Using the code of DNA (gene) to make RNA

What is needed for transcription?

DNA to act as a template, RNA nucleotides, and enzymes

What is the process of transcription?

Untwist and unzip DNA, base pairing of RNA nucleotides to the DNA, separate the RNA, and rezip and retwist the DNA

What's translation?

Using the code of mRNA to produce a protein molecule?

What is needed for translation?

mRNA, amino acids, ribosomes, tRNA molecules, and enzymes

What is the process of translation?

mRNA leaves the nucleus through a nuclear pore, mRNA binds to ribosome in the cytoplasm or on the endoplasmic reticulum, tRNA carries amino acids from the cytoplasm/er to the mRNA, and tRNA anticodons match up on mRNA codons

Where does translation occur?

Translation occurs in the cytoplasm at a ribosome

Codon

A 3 base segment of mRNA that codes for a specific amino acid

tRNA

Carries amino acids to the mRNA (based on the 3 letter codons of mRNA)

Anticodon

3 bases at the bottom of the tRNA that match a specific codon in the mRNA