🧬 Central Dogma + Viruses & Vaccines — Flashcards
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Q: What is the central dogma of molecular biology?
A: DNA → RNA → Protein → Trait
Q: What are three main differences between DNA and RNA?
A:
RNA has ribose sugar instead of deoxyribose.
RNA uses uracil (U) instead of thymine (T).
RNA is usually single-stranded, while DNA is double-stranded
Q: Where does transcription occur?
A: In the nucleus.
Q: What is the main enzyme involved in transcription?
A: RNA polymerase.
Q: What serves as the template for transcription?
A: A single strand of DNA.
Q: What is produced at the end of transcription?
A: A single strand of mRNA (messenger RNA) that is complementary to the DNA template.
Q: What does mRNA stand for, and what is its role?
A: Messenger RNA — it carries the genetic code from DNA to the ribosome for protein synthesis.
Q: If the DNA template strand reads TTACGGAA, what is the sequence of the mRNA?
A: AAUGCCUU
Q: Is transcription the process of making more DNA?
A: No — it makes RNA, not DNA.
Q: What is a codon?
A: A sequence of three mRNA bases that codes for one amino acid.
Q: What is the start codon?
A: AUG, which codes for methionine.
Q: What are the stop codons?
A: UAA, UAG, and UGA.
Q: How many nucleotides are read at a time during translation?
A: Three — one codon.
Q: How many amino acids are there?
A: 20 different amino acids.
Q: Where does translation occur?
A: At the ribosome (in the cytoplasm).
Q: What is the function of a ribosome?
A: It is the site of protein synthesis, where mRNA is read and amino acids are linked together.
Q: What does tRNA stand for, and what is its role?
A: Transfer RNA — it brings amino acids to the ribosome during translation.
Q: What is an anticodon?
A: A sequence of three bases on tRNA that pairs with a complementary mRNA codon.
Q: What does tRNA deliver to the ribosome?
A: Amino acids.
Q: What is built during translation?
A: A protein (polypeptide chain).
Q: When does translation stop?
A: When a stop codon is reached.
Q: How are mRNA codons and tRNA anticodons related?
A: They are complementary to each other.
Q: What is the purpose of DNA replication?
A: To make an exact copy of DNA before cell division.
Q: What is the purpose of transcription and translation?
A: To make proteins from genetic instructions.
Q: Where do Replication & Transcription processe occur?
in the nucleus
Q: Where does Translation processe occur?
the ribosome in the cytoplasm
Q: What is a mutation?
A: A change in the DNA sequence.
Q: When can mutations occur?
A: During DNA replication or from mutagens (like radiation or chemicals).
Q: What are possible effects of mutations?
A: They can be harmless, harmful, or beneficial.
Q: What are three main types of mutations?
A: Substitutions, insertions, and deletions.
Q: What is a frameshift mutation?
A: A mutation caused by an insertion or deletion that shifts how codons are grouped, changing the amino acid sequence.
Q: What causes sickle cell disease?
A: A substitution mutation in the hemoglobin gene that changes one amino acid.
Q: What are viruses made of?
A: Genetic material (DNA or RNA) covered by a protective protein coat (capsid).
Q: What structure helps some viruses attach to host cells?
A: Surface proteins or spikes.
Q: Give examples of RNA viruses.
A: Influenza, COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), HIV, measles.
Q: Give examples of DNA viruses.
A: Herpes, chickenpox (varicella-zoster), HPV, smallpox.
Q: Why don’t antibiotics work on viruses?
A: Because viruses are not living cells — they don’t have cell walls or metabolism for antibiotics to target.
Q: What is the purpose of a vaccine?
A: To train the immune system to recognize and fight a specific pathogen.
Q: How do mRNA vaccines work?
A: They use a piece of mRNA that codes for a viral protein (like the spike protein).
Cells read the mRNA → make the protein → the immune system learns to recognize it.
Q: How does the process of mRNA vaccines connect to the central dogma?
A: They directly use the flow of information:
mRNA → protein → immune response (trait)
Q: What is the “big idea” linking all these processes?
A: DNA → RNA → Protein → Trait — this flow of information explains how genetic instructions result in physical traits and how mutations or vaccines can affect protein production.