DNA

• What does DNA stand for?

  Deoxyribonucleic acid
• What is the role of DNA in a cell?

  It contains coded information for organism function
• What determines inherited characteristics in an organism?

  What is in the DNA
• Where is DNA found in cells?

  In the nucleus
• What are chromosomes made of?

  Long molecules of DNA
• How are chromosomes typically organized?

  They normally come in pairs
• What shape do DNA strands form?

  Double helix
• What is a gene?

  A small section of DNA on a chromosome
• What does each gene code for?

  A particular sequence of amino acids
• How many amino acids are used to make proteins?

  Twenty
• What determines the type of cell produced?

  The proteins the cell produces
• What is a genome?

  The entire set of genetic material in an organism
• Why is understanding the human genome important?

  It helps identify genes linked to diseases
• How can knowledge of genes linked to diseases help us?

  It aids in developing effective treatments
• What can scientists trace by looking at genomes?

  The migration of populations around the world
• What is the significance of tiny differences in genomes?

  They help determine population migration routes
• What are DNA molecules made of?

  Nucleotides
• What are the components of a nucleotide?

  A sugar, a phosphate group, and a base
• What forms the backbone of DNA strands?

  Sugar and phosphate groups
• What is complementary base pairing?

  A pairs with T, C pairs with G
• What decides the order of amino acids in a protein?

  The order of bases in a gene
• How many bases code for each amino acid?

  Three bases
• What does DNA stand for?

  Deoxyribonucleic acid
• What is the purpose of DNA?

  It contains the coded information and instructions to put an organism together and make it work
• Where is DNA found in animal and plant cells?

  In the nucleus
• What is the structure of DNA?

  Two strands coiled together in a double helix
• What is a gene?

  A small section of DNA on a chromosome that codes for a particular sequence of amino acids to make a specific protein
• What is an organism's genome?

  The entire set of genetic material in an organism
• What are the four bases that make up DNA?

  Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, Guanine
• What is the relationship between the bases in DNA?

  Adenine always pairs with Thymine, and Cytosine always pairs with Guanine (complementary base pairing)
• How are proteins synthesized from the DNA code?

  The order of bases in a gene determines the order of amino acids in a protein, which are then joined together
• What is the role of mRNA?

  mRNA carries the code from the DNA in the nucleus to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm where proteins are synthesized
• What are the three main types of proteins and their functions?

  1. Enzymes - act as biological catalysts, 2) Hormones - carry messages around the body, 3) Structural proteins - provide physical strength
• The DNA sequence CTCCTAGTGGAT codes for how many amino acids?

  4
• What is the sequence of bases for the complementary DNA strand to CTCCTAGTGGAT?

  GAGGAUCACCUA
• What are the key differences between DNA and RNA?

  • DNA is a double-stranded molecule, while RNA is single-stranded
  • DNA uses the base thymine (T), while RNA uses the base uracil (U)
  • DNA is the genetic material stored in the nucleus, while RNA carries the genetic code to the ribosomes for protein synthesis
  • DNA replicates itself, while RNA is transcribed from DNA
• What are the steps of protein synthesis?

  1. Transcription: DNA is transcribed into mRNA in the nucleus
  2. mRNA travels to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm
  3. Translation: Ribosomes use the mRNA code to assemble a chain of amino acids
  4. The amino acid chain folds into a 3D protein structure
  5. The protein performs its specific function in the cell
• What are the key differences between coding and non-coding regions of DNA?

  Coding regions:

  • Contain genes that code for proteins
  • The sequence of bases determines the sequence of amino acids in a protein

  
  

  Non-coding regions:

  • Do not code for proteins
  • Some regulate gene expression by turning genes on or off
  • Some have structural roles in the chromosome