DNA

STUDY QUESTIONS
In addition to the questions about genome projects in the initial research assignment and the
Review and Connection Questions at the end of the laboratory, these questions are provided to
guide your study. The questions are listed in the approximate order of coverage of the material in
lecture, and therefore serve as a basic outline of the unit. However a complete response to some
questions early in the list will need information from later lectures or text reading. You should
study your notes from lecture and lab, the sections of your text assigned for the unit (see the
schedule of classes) and other scholarly sources as needed to fully respond to each of these
questions. Revisit each question at the end of the unit to be sure that you incorporate all the
information presented and that you can make connections between the concepts that relate to each
question. While you may begin by looking up a definition or a single phrase/sentence response to
each question, this alone will not be sufficient. At the end of your study of the unit, you should
be able to write a short essay in response to each question without reference to any sources.

1. What is DNA and what is a genome?

2. Why is DNA the central molecule in biology? What are the 2 major functions of DNA
in the cell? Carries genetic material
Carries genetic material and replicates itself
3. What was the significance of the Hershey-Chase experiments? Proved DNA was the
molecule of heredity
4. List at least 5 specific features of the structure of DNA as explained by the Watson &
Crick model. How did Watson and Crick come up with their model of the double
helix? [Describe 2-3 specific pieces of information about DNA that Watson and
Crick gathered from other scientists to help them build their DNA model. Be sure to
include the name(s) of the contributing scientist(s). What insights did Watson and
Crick contribute to the model?]
Base pairing, double-helix,
5. Why is DNA referred to as a double helix? Distinguish between one DNA strand
(nucleotide chain) and the whole DNA molecule. DNA is formed in a double-helix
6. Explain the structure of a nucleotide in terms of its 3 component parts. How does that
structure make up the structure of a DNA molecule itself?
Sugar, phosphate, nitrogenous base.
7. What is complementary base paring? What are the rules of complementary base
paring? What evidence did Chargaff present for these rules?
C=G A=T
8. For the DNA sequence TTACGGGATTCT, what would be the sequence of
nucleotides in the complementary DNA strand? AATGCCCTAAGA

9. How is DNA replicated? Include an explanation of why the two resulting DNA
double helices are identical. What is the difference between continuous and
discontinuous DNA synthesis? What aspects of DNA structure and of DNA
polymerase specificity account for this?
Read PPT
10. What is proof reading in context of DNA replication? DNA polymerase What is the
error rate before verses after proof reading? -10^4 versus -10^9 What is the value of
this proofreading to the cell/organism? Less mutations will occur. Less diseases and
thus better health
11. Why is DNA replication said to be semi-conservative? What is the value of this to
the cell? Because half of the parental molecule is maintined in each daughter
molecule
12. Distinguish between transcription and translation in terms of the molecules involved,
the location and the products. Transcription is copying DNA info into RNA copies in
nucleus and then the RNA enters the cytoplasm. Translation is protein synthesis in
cytoplasm including mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA
13. What is RNA? A type of nucleic acid consisting of nucleotide monomers with a
ribose sugar and the nitrogenous bases A, C, G, and U. How does the structure of
RNA differ from that of DNA? Usually single-stranded, U instead of T, A doesnt = U
and G doesnt equal C. Why is it that A=T and G=C in all DNA, regardless of source,
length, etc.? Why, in RNA, does AU and GC?
14. What type(s) of macromolecule do genes code for directly? Protein What type(s) of
macromolecule do they NOT code for directly? Lipids, carbohydrates How does the
cell produce macromolecules not directly coded for in DNA?
CG
15. Explain how the sequence of nucleotides of DNA codes for the sequence of amino
acids in a protein. Be able to describe in essay form how a protein is made? Why is
"translation" a good name for protein synthesis?
16. Distinguish between tRNA, rRNA, and mRNA in terms of their origins, structures,
and roles in translation.
mRNA: made by DNA transcription of a particular protein; processed in nucleus and
brings genetic info to the cytoplasm
17. For the DNA molecule shown in the box on the right, indicate the H-bond
between the base pairs, and the strand on the left is the template strand. What would
be the sequence of nucleotides in an mRNA transcribed off this DNA sequence?
18. What would be the primary structure of the protein produced with this message?

GC
CG
TA
CG
TA
TA
AT
GC
CG
GC
CG
GC
GC
TA
AT
CG
AT
GC
TA
CT
GG
TA
GC
AG
GC
T A
AT

19. Using the lac operon in prokaryotes as an example, describe how a cell can regulate
whether or not it expresses information in a gene(s). if a certain nutrient is present,
the organism will produce the enzymes necessary to absorb that nutrient What
ultimately controls whether or not the structural genes of the lac operon are
transcribed? Why is gene regulation important to the cell? For E.coli it is the basis of
survival, due to its constantly changing environment or energy consumption What
researchers were responsible for first describing the lac operon? Jacob and Hanod
20. What is mutation?
a. Distinguish between base substitution (point) mutations and insertion/deletion
mutations. Base substitution is just changing one letter or base. Base insertion
or deletion is adding one base or subtracting one base.
b. Distinguish between silent silent results in no difference in the protein,
missense missense results in a change in the amino acid; sometimes no effect
on the shape and function of the protein but sometimes bad effects such as
sickle cell anemia, nonsense nonsense change an amino acid codon into a
stopping codon which will result in a prematurely formed protein that likely
will not function properly, and frameshift mutations frameshift mutations
result in disastrous effects often. How serious are the consequences of each of
these to the affected protein? To the cell/organism?
c. What are the two main sources of mutations in cells? DNA damage from
environmental agents such as ultraviolet light (sunshine), nuclear radiation or
certain chemical. Mistakes that occur when a cell copies its DNA in
preparation for cell division. How and when in the cell cycle do each of these
types of gene mutations arise? During DNA replication. UV can cause two
neighboring bases to bind to eachother. Mistakes that occur in transcription
can be from a single base insertion or a base substitution
d. How can a mutation in DNA lead to a genetic disease?
e. Distinguish between a gene mutation and a chromosomal aberration and
provide examples of each. Change in DNA rather than chromosomes
21. What is biotechnology? The manipulation of organisms or their components to make
useful products How does it differ from technology? List several examples of
biotechnology. Milk, corn, yogurt
22. What is the Human Genome Project? List a few other species whose genomes have
now been sequenced. Why are we interested in genomes from other species in
addition to our own genome?