Bio Exam 1

Adaptations

Inherited characteristics that enhance survival and reproduction in a given environment

Population genetics

Study of the genetic variation within a population; analyzes the frequencies of genes and alleles over space and time

What % of the genome is introns

\~20%

Nucleotide

The monomers linked together by phosphodiester bonds that make up the polymer of DNA

Amino Acid

Monomers that are linked together in a chain by peptide bonds that make up the polymer of proteins

Gene

A specific sequence of DNA that encodes a specific protein or RNA molecule

Genome

Complete set of genetic information in a cell (all the DNA)

Genome Sequence

The exact order of nucleotides found in the DNA of an organism (ATGCs)

Gene Expression

The process of Turing “on” a gene to produce RNA and protein

For proper function of a cell, particular proteins must be made…

\-at specific times

\-in specific amounts

\-at specific locations

FOXP2

What gene regulates transcription of genes that code for speech and vocalization?

Differential Gene Expression

The expression of different genes by cells with the same genome

Cytoplasm

Where do transcription and translation occur in prokaryotes?

Yes

In prokaryotes, does transcription and translation occur simultaneously?

Transcription initiation

Where is the primary control of gene expression in prokaryotes at the level of?

The nucleus

Where does transcription occur in eukaryotes

The cytoplasm

Where does translation occur in eukaryotes

No

Does translation and transcription occur simultaneously in eukaryotes?

Transcription initiation

Where does primary control of gene expression occur>

Activators

Enhance the binding of RNA polymerase to the DNA to increase transcription of that gene

Repressor

Inhibit expression of a particular gene in several different ways.

1. Epigenetic level
2. Transcriptional level
3. Post-transcriptional level
4. Translational level
5. Post translational

What are the 5 levels that gene expression in eukaryotes can occur?

1. Epigenetic level
2. Transcriptional level
3. Post-transcriptional level

What levels of gene expression in eukaryotes occurs in the nucleus?

Epigenetic level

DNA must be uncoiled and loosened from nucleosides for transcription factors to bind

Epigenetics

The study of heritable changes that are not changes in gene sequence

Heterochromatin

Tightly packed DNA; transcription factors cannot bind to the DNA when it is tightly packed, so genes are not expressed.

Euchromatin

Loosely packed DNA; transcription factors can bind to the DNA and genes are expressed.

Transcriptional level

When RNA transcription is initiated

General Transcription factors

Required to recruit RNA polymerase II to a promoter

Specific Transcription Factors

Bind to regions in the DNA called Enhancers

Post-Transcriptional Level

When RNA is processed and transported to the cytoplasm

RNA splicing

Alternative splicing can produce multiple mRNAs from one gene

RNA stability

Rate of mRNA decay can be controlled

4. Translational level
5. Post-translational

What levels of gene expression is regulated in the cytoplasm?

Translational Level

When translation is initiated

Post- Translational

After the protein is made during folding, modifications, adn trafficking

Protein degradation

Proteins to be degraded are labeled with ubiquitin, then destroyed by the proteasome

Pattern formation

The development of a spatial organization of tissues and organs; determines the spatial arrangements of tissues before they developed.

Homeotic genes

Control pattern formation in the later embryo, larva, and adult stages

Cytoplasmic determinants

Maternal signals present in the egg cells; tells the cel what genes to turn on and off

RNA interference

Occurs when miRNA or siRNA binds to a complementary mRNA sequence thereby blocking gene expression by degrading the mRNA or by blocking translation of the mRNA

Polymerase chain reaction

What does PCR stand for?

Copies a specific strand of DNA

What is the purpose of PCR?

Genomics

The study of whole sets of genes and their interactions

Metagenomics

DNA from a group of species in an environmental sample is sequenced

Reference sequence

Composite of multiple individual’s genomes

Bioinformatics

The application of computational methods to the storage and analysis of biological data

Proteome

The entire set of proteins expressed by a cell or group of cells or organism

Proteomics

An approach to studying large sets of proteins and their properties

Transcriptome

The entire set of RNA/mRNA expressed by a cell, group of cells, organism

Transcriptome

An approach to studying large sets of mRNAs and their properties

5%

What percent of genome is gene regulatory sequences?

Micro evolution

The change in allele frequencies in a population over generations, is evolution at its smallest scale

Genetic Variation

Differences in alleles of genes found within individuals in a population caused by differences in genes or other DNA segments

Population

A group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area and interbreed

Macro evolution

Refers to broad patterns of evolutionary change above the species level

Speciation

The process by which one species splits into two or more species, is at the focal point of evolutionary theory

Mutation

A change in DNA

Gene Flow

Movement of indictable or alleles from one population to another

Genetic Drift

In small populations, allele frequency may change by chance alone.

Natural selection

A process in which individuals with favorable inherited traits are more likely to survive and reproduce

Artificial Selections

Occurs when humans modify other species by selecting and breeding with individuals with desired traits.

Natural selection

What is the only mechanism that consistently causes adaptive evolution

Adaptive evolution

Evolution that results in a better match between organisms and their environment

Homologous structures

Anatomical resemblances that represent variations on structural theme present in a common ancestor

Vestigial structures

Remnants of features that served a function in the orgamism’s ancestors

Biogeography

Then scientific study of the geographic distribution of species, provides evidence of evolution

Transcription

The process of copying a segment of DNA into RNA

Translation

The process of turning the sequence of a messenger RNA molecule to a sequence of amino acids during protein synthesis

Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

A population in which the allele and genotype frequencies are constant from generation to generation

Gametes

Only mutations in cell lines that produce ______ are passed to offspring

Natural selection

A process in which individual switch favorable inherited traits are more likely to survive and reproduce