Chapter 15
Self-Quiz
Unit 3: Genetics
From Gene to Protein
Review
The bulk of the DNA sequence in most
genes
codes for the production of
. A
protein
is made of one or more
, which are linear polymers of
, and which are folded into specific shapes. In other words, the DNA sequence specifies the
sequence of proteins.
RNA
is an important component in this process. Proteins ultimately determine an organism's
.
RNA is structurally similar to DNA, but differs in three key respects.
Most
RNA
is
, unlike the double-stranded structure of DNA.
RNA nucleotides contain a
sugar
rather than the deoxyribose of DNA.
RNA does not contain the base thymine (T), but instead contains the base
(U), which
base-pairs
with adenine (A) of DNA.
The flow of information from genes to proteins involves a
two-step process
of
followed by
.
The DNA message of a gene is first
transcribed
into
within the cell nucleus using the
enzyme
starting at the
and ending at the
. Similar to
DNA replication,
the direction of
transcription
is 5
'
to 3
'
.
Other enzymes remove noncoding sequences of RNA called
and splice the
to produce the
final
(mRNA),
which exits the nucleus through the
.
The mRNA is then
translated
within the cytoplasm using the
to form the sequence of
that makes up a
polypeptide.
The
genetic code
is made of triplets of bases called
that
code
for amino acids. The code is
: many amino acids can "wobble": they are encoded by more than one codon.
The actual assembly of proteins occurs in the cytoplasm on
, which consist of many proteins and
(rRNA). A 3rd kind of RNA,
(tRNA),
forms an
initiation complex
at the start codon. The tRNA carries a specific amino acid and an
which
binds
to the codon on the mRNA. The complex forms
bonds between
amino acids,
until a stop codon terminates the process, releasing the
completed polypeptide.
Genetic
mutations
are either
or
or
of one or more wild-type
DNA bases.
Since many tRNAs can "wobble", some substitution mutations are
and do not exhibit a change in amino acids, but many substitution mutations do result in
changed proteins
and are called
mutations. Insertions and deletions cause a
of the decoding sequence and usually result in a
protein.
Chapter 17
Self-Quiz
Unit 3: Genetics
DNA Technology
Review
Knowledge about the molecular nature of genes provides
tools
for
genetic
.
DNA sequences can be studied by cutting DNA into specific segments using
enzymes.
The
ends
can be used to insert fragments of DNA from other sources.
The segments can then be sorted by
using
gel
. These technologies can be combined in
Length Polymorphism (RFLP) to
detect
genetic diseases such as
sickle-cell
anemia.
Alleles can also be identified by
DNA
, using radioactively labeled, single-stranded DNA segments called DNA
that can base-pair with specific DNA sequences.
Segments of DNA can be isolated and
by two techniques.
Use
enzymes and DNA
to construct a
DNA
in bacteria with vectors such as
and
, then identifying and culturing the bacteria in the
carrying the desired
gene.
Use the enzyme DNA
and known DNA
in
Chain Reaction
(PCR)
to synthesize large quantities of a gene
in vitro
.
Cloned DNA can be used as
DNA
tool in
identifying
individuals.
Isolated genes can be
modified
and then inserted back into organisms through a
process
called
genetic
.
Other applications of DNA technologies include
screening
and
therapy.
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Feb 21, 2006
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