Genetic Variation and Change

Objective

1. Define nucleic acid and name the two kinds of nucleic acids DNA and RNA

2. Draw a fully annotated diagram of a DNA molecule showing: nucleotide

monomers, deoxyribose sugar, phosphate, 4 kinds of nitrogenous bases.

3. Describe complementary base pairing in DNA.

4. Describe what the genetic code is and state the function of the code.

5. Draw a fully annotated diagram of mRNA molecule showing nucleotide

monomers, ribose sugar, phosphate, 4 kinds of nitrogenous bases of mRNA

6. List structural similarities and differences between DNA and mRNA

7. Describe the structure of tRNA

8. Describe triplets, codons and anticodons. (examples required)

9. Describe the redundancy of the code due to degeneracy (examples required)

10. Describe the significance of proteins (their biological role) in living cells and
organisms with respect to their structural and catalytic role (examples required)

11. Describe the relationship between a polypeptide chain and a functional protein
(examples required)

12. Describe the primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure of a protein
(examples required)

13. Explain how proteins are the products of gene expression by describing the
link between DNA, mRNA and a polypeptide chain

14. Describe the role of one gene with a specific base sequence in determining the
specific amino acid sequence and final structure of a protein (examples required)

15. Explain how a protein is produced by the process of transcription and

translation explain the significance or purpose of every step in the two processes

16. Explain the significance of enzymes in controlling the process of protein

synthesis.

17.

Define biochemical reaction (examples required)

18. Explain the link between a specific gene, a specific enzyme and each
biochemical reaction (examples required)

19. Explain the concepts of a metabolic pathway using the key terms: substrate,
product, biochemical reaction, enzyme. (examples required)

20.

Define metabolic product (examples required)

21. Explain how phenotype is determined by the presence, absence or amount of

a metabolic product (examples required)

22. Explain, using examples, how phenotype is determined by the presence,

absence or amount of specific metabolic products. (examples required)

23.

Define the term mutation

24. Define mutagen and Identify mutagens (environmental factors)that cause

mutations (examples required)

25. Distinguish between somatic and gametic mutations and identify the potential
effect of each of these. (examples required)

26. Describe the different types of mutation deletion, insertion, substitution and
compare their effect on the base sequence and sequence of triplets

27.

Explain the potential effect of gene mutations on:

 the base sequence of DNA in a gene

mRNA codons
amino acid sequence
tertiary structure of protein (enzyme)
biological function of the protein / enzyme
and the metabolic pathway.
(examples required including sickle cell anemia and cystic fibrosis )

28. Explain the effect of the gene mutation on the genotype (new allele formed)
and hence the phenotype. (examples required)

29. Explain how environmental factors may change an organisms phenotype

without changing its genotype. (examples required)