DNA to Proteins, DNA Structure and Replication

Flashcards based on lecture notes about DNA, proteins, and replication.

What is a sequence of three nucleotides on mRNA that codes for a specific amino acid called?

Codon

What non-membranous organelle is where polypeptides and proteins are assembled?

Ribosomes

RNA polymerase II continues to slide along the DNA strand assembling mRNA until it reaches what?

Termination signal or stop codon

What is the process of assembling a specific sequence of amino acids from the code on mRNA called?

Translation

What is the function of RNA polymerase II?

Synthesizes mRNA by using a DNA template

What is mRNA?

carries the genetic code from DNA to ribosomes

What are non-coding sequences of mRNA that are removed prior to translation?

Introns

What is a specific sequence of three nucleotides on tRNA that is a complement of a codon called?

Anticodon

All proteins are made up of what?

Amino acids

What is the start codon that codes for methionine?

AUG

Ribosomes are made up of what two subunits?

Large and small

What is the function of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase?

Catalyzes the attachment of tRNA to its specific amino acid

What is on tRNA and is the complement of a mRNA codon?

Anticodon

What is the process of copying RNA from DNA called, and what is the process of producing a protein from the code on mRNA called?

Transcription; Translation

What must bind to the promoter before RNA polymerase II can bind?

Transcription factors

Ribosomes continue to slide along the mRNA strand until they reach what, which are UGA, UAG, or UAA?

Stop codon

What is a physical change in the DNA sequence called?

Mutation

List three types of point mutations.

Substitution, insertion, deletion

Why does DNA replicate?

to pass on genetic information during cell division

Which nitrogenous bases are double-ringed purines?

Adenine and guanine

What is the main difference between DNA and RNA nucleotides?

DNA has deoxyribose sugar, RNA has ribose sugar

What is the hereditary substance of life and codes for proteins?

DNA

What does DNA stand for?

Deoxyribonucleic acid

Name the four nitrogenous bases in DNA.

Adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine

Purines are double-ringed nitrogenous bases, while pyrimidines are how many ringed nitrogenous bases?

Single

Guanine always pairs with what?

Cytosine

Adenine pairs with what in DNA and what in RNA?

Thymine; Uracil

What are the building blocks for DNA?

Nucleotides

What enzyme binds and unzips the DNA, separating it into two strands?

Helicase

Who used radioactive sulfur and radioactive phosphorus to prove that DNA was the genetic material?

Hershey and Chase

Who discovered the double helical structure of DNA?

Watson and Crick

DNA polymerase reads DNA from which end and assembles the new DNA from which end?

3'; 5'

The two strands of DNA are held together by what bonds?

Hydrogen

The complement of thymine is always what?

Adenine

Electrophoresis separates compounds based on what two factors?

Size and charge

Explain what 'antiparallel' means in DNA structure.

The two strands of DNA run in opposite directions.

DNA replication, where the new DNA consists of one old and one new strand, is called what kind of replication?

Semi-conservative

What does polymerase chain reaction (PCR) do?

Amplifies (creates many copies of) a specific DNA sequence

Why is the RNA primer important in DNA replication?

Provides a starting point for DNA polymerase to begin replication

List the five reagents needed for PCR.

DNA template, primers, DNA polymerase, nucleotides, and buffer solution

What determines the location within the genome that will be amplified by PCR?

Primers

what is the enzyme that unwinds the double helix of DNA and breaks the hydrogen bonds?

Helicase

what is the enzymes that assemble the majority of the new DNA strand?

DNA Polymerase III

what is the enzyme that adds a RNA Primer to DNA?

RNA Primase

Match: The enzyme that joins the Okazaki fragments together

DNA Ligase