Lecture 3 - Intro to Molecular Genetics

What are the macromolecules of life?

1. Carbohydrates

2. Lipids

3. Nucleic Acids

4. Proteins

What are the atoms that compose the macromolecules of life?

1. Carbon

2. Hydrogen

3. Oxygen

4. Nitrogen

5. Phosphorus

6. Sulfur

What is the basic unit of a carbohydrate?

Sugar

What atoms make up carbohydrates and lipids?

1. Carbon

2. Hydrogen

3. Oxygen

What differentiates a carbohydrate from a lipid?

The orientation of the carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms

What function/s do carbohydrates perform?

Provide energy and support to the cell

What is the basic unit of a lipid?

Fatty acid

What function/s do lipids perform?

1. Provide energy, structure, and cushioning to the cell

2. Prevents loss of heat

What is the basic unit of a nucleic acid?

Nucleotide (composed of a sugar, phosphate, and base)

What are the two types of nucleic acid?

DNA and RNA

What atoms make up nucleic acids?

1. Carbon

2. Hydrogen

3. Nitrogen

4. Oxygen

5. Phosphorus

What function/s do nucleic acids perform?

Directs and controls ALL activities of the cell

What is the basic unit of a protein?

Amino acids

What atoms make up proteins?

1. Carbon

2. Hydrogen

3. Nitrogen

4. Oxygen

5. Sulfur

What function/s do proteins perform?

Provide an array of functions in the cell including metabolism, transport, and stimulus response

Transforming Principle

A nonlethal bacteria is turned into a lethal one

When Frederick Griffith injected mice with the Rough Strain (II-R) and Heat-Killed Smooth Strain pneumonia, what happened?

The mice lived (for the most part)

When Frederick Griffith injected mice with the Smooth Strain and a mix of the Rough Strain and Heat-Killed Smooth Strain pneumonia, what happened?

The mice died

When Avery, MacLeod, and McCarty performed their version of Griffith’s experiement, what conclusion did they find?

Transformation cannot occur unless DNA is present

What atoms did Hershey and Chase use for their experiement?

S³⁵ and P³²

In the Hershey and Chase experiment, when a bacteriophage containing radioactive sulfur-35 was injected into E. coli bacteria cells, what happened?

No radioactivity entered the cell

In the Hershey and Chase experiment, when a bacteriophage containing radioactive phosphorus-32 was injected into E. coli bacteria cells, what happened?

Radioactivity entered the cell, thus proving DNA is the material of heredity