1What is genetics?
The study of inheritable traits as expressed in an organism’s genome.
2What is the central dogma of biology?
DNA → RNA → protein.
3What is transcription?
The process of copying information from DNA into RNA.
4What enzyme carries out transcription?
RNA polymerase.
5What is translation?
The process of using mRNA instructions to build a protein.
6What cellular structure carries out translation?
The ribosome.
7Why is RNA made from DNA before a protein is built?
RNA provides a working copy of genetic instructions while DNA remains the stored copy.
8What is a genotype?
An organism’s genetic makeup.
9What is a phenotype?
The observable characteristics produced by an organism’s genes and environment.
10What is the genetic code?
The set of rules that relates mRNA codons to amino acids.
11What is a codon?
A sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA.
12What is the usual start codon?
$AUG$.
13In which direction is mRNA read during translation?
$5′ \rightarrow 3′$.
14How does the mRNA sequence compare with the DNA coding strand?
It has the same sequence except RNA uses U instead of T.
15What is an operon?
A group of genes regulated together under shared control.
16What is an inducible operon?
An operon that is usually off and can be switched on.
17What is a repressible operon?
An operon that is usually on and can be switched off.
18What is negative gene regulation?
Regulation in which a repressor protein reduces gene expression.
19What is positive gene regulation?
Regulation in which an activator protein increases gene expression.
20What is the lac operon used for?
Regulating genes involved in lactose use.
21What happens to the lac operon when lactose is absent?
The repressor binds the operator and blocks transcription.
22What happens to the lac operon when lactose is present?
Lactose-derived allolactose binds the repressor, allowing transcription.
23What is the trp operon used for?
Regulating genes involved in tryptophan synthesis.
24What happens to the trp operon when tryptophan is abundant?
Tryptophan helps activate the repressor, reducing transcription.
25What is a mutation?
A change in the nucleotide sequence of DNA.
26What is a spontaneous mutation?
A mutation that occurs naturally, often because of an error during DNA replication.
27How frequent are spontaneous replication mutations according to the lecture?
Approximately once per \(10^9\) nucleotides copied.
28What are induced mutations?
Mutations caused by external factors such as radiation or chemicals.
29What are transposons?
DNA segments that can move and insert themselves into different locations in a genome.
30How can ionizing radiation damage DNA?
High-energy radiation such as X-rays and gamma rays can damage or break the DNA backbone.
31How does ultraviolet radiation damage DNA?
It can cause adjacent thymine bases to form thymine dimers.
32Why are thymine dimers harmful?
They distort DNA and can interfere with replication and transcription.
33Why can mutations contribute to evolution?
Rare beneficial mutations can provide advantages that natural selection acts on.
34Are most mutations beneficial?
No. Most are harmful or have little effect; a small number can be advantageous.
35What is horizontal gene transfer?
The movement of genetic material between organisms rather than inheritance from parent to offspring.
36What is vertical gene transfer?
The transfer of genetic information from parent to offspring.
37What is transformation?
The uptake of free DNA from the environment by a cell.
38What is conjugation?
DNA transfer between bacterial cells through direct cell-to-cell contact.
39What is transduction?
The transfer of bacterial DNA from one cell to another by a bacteriophage.
40What is generalized transduction?
A phage accidentally packages bacterial DNA, potentially transferring different regions of the bacterial genome.
41What is specialized transduction?
A phage transfers specific bacterial genes near the site where its DNA was integrated.
42What is a plasmid?
A small, independently replicating DNA molecule, commonly found in bacteria.
43How can horizontal gene transfer affect bacteria?
It can introduce new traits, including traits that may improve survival or cause disease.