Genetics Final Exam Study Guide 2025

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to genetics, protein synthesis, mutation types, and gene regulation to help prepare for a final exam.

Beadle and Tatum experiment

An experiment that identified genes involved in a biosynthetic pathway, determining mutation locations via complementation.

Intermediate

A compound formed in a biosynthetic pathway that accumulates due to a specific mutant's block.

Genetic code experiments

Three experimental approaches used to decipher the genetic code, including those by Crick and Brenner.

Frameshift mutation

A genetic mutation caused by insertions or deletions that alters the reading frame of the genetic code.

Degenerate genetic code

A characteristic of the genetic code where multiple codons can encode the same amino acid.

Second genetic code

Refers to aminoacyl tRNA synthetases which attach amino acids to corresponding tRNA.

Ribosome

A molecular machine that facilitates protein synthesis and is considered a ribozyme.

16s RNA

A component of the bacterial ribosome involved in mRNA binding and recognition.

Shine-Dalgarno sequence

A ribosomal binding site in bacterial mRNA that is crucial for translation initiation.

tRNAfMet

The initiator tRNA in bacteria that carries formylmethionine.

Polypeptide chain growth

The process by which the ribosome synthesizes proteins, tracking codons relative to amino acids.

Coupling in bacterial translation

The simultaneous processes of transcription and translation in bacteria, which doesn't occur in eukaryotes.

Codon table

A chart used to translate DNA or RNA sequences into their corresponding amino acid sequences.

Levels of protein structure

The primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structures that proteins can adopt.

Polymorphism

A variation in DNA sequence among individuals, which can affect gene function and expression.

Tautomer

A chemical species which can lead to mutations through base pairing errors.

Thymine dimer

A DNA damage caused by UV light leading to covalent bonding between adjacent thymine bases.

DNA repair types

Major mechanisms including Base Excision Repair (BER) and Nucleotide Excision Repair (NER).

Xeroderma pigmentosum

A genetic disorder linked to defective DNA repair mechanisms, leading to increased skin cancer risk.

Homologous recombination

A type of DNA repair that uses a homologous sequence as a template during repair.

Induced mutation

A mutation caused by external factors (mutagens), as opposed to spontaneous mutations.

Housekeeping genes

Essential genes that are consistently expressed to maintain basic cellular function.

Inducible operon

A type of operon that is activated by the presence of a specific substance (e.g., the lac operon).

Repressible operon

An operon that is inhibited in the presence of a specific substance (e.g., the trp operon).

Diauxic growth

The presence of two distinct phases of growth based on nutrient availability, particularly the use of glucose before lactose.

Histone code hypothesis

The theory that specific patterns of histone modifications regulate gene expression.

ChIP-Seq

A method to analyze protein interactions with DNA and investigate gene regulation.