Chapter 2&3:

Expression of Biological
Information I and II
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by Ms.Rennielyn Rupert 1
 OUTLINES
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Student should be able to explain the three

models of DNA replication, the mechanism of
DNA replication, and the role of the enzymes
involved, the characteristics of genetic code.
Describe and differentiate transcription and
translation, the lac operon system, and the
different types of mutation.
 Models of DNA replication
Watson and Crick’s double SB0014
helix DNA model:

• Parental double helix • Two strands of the • Both daughter strands

remains intake.
• An all new copy is made
parental separate. of DNA have a mixture
• Each function as a new of original and newly
template for synthesis • synthesised parts.
new complementary
strand.
 Role of the Enzymes
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 Helicase: unwinds parental double helix

 Binding proteins: stabilize separate strands
 Primase: adds short primer to template strand
 DNA polymerase III: binds nucleotides to form new
strands
 DNA polymerase I: (Exonuclease) removes RNA
primer and inserts the correct bases
 Ligase: joins Okazaki fragments and seals other nicks
in sugar-phosphate backbone
Mechanism of DNA replication
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Transcription and Translation
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Transcription and Translation
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(terminator)
 Lac Operon System
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The lac operon is an

operon, or group of
genes with a single
promoter (transcribed as
a single mRNA). The
genes in the operon
encode proteins that
allow the bacteria to use
lactose as an energy
source.

The genes are expressed

only when lactose is
present and glucose is
absent.

Two protein: Catabolite

activator protein and lac
repressor
 Different Types of Mutation
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Any changes in
gene and
chromosomes
Physical & chemical mutagens
 Tutorial Assignment
Question 1

Briefly describe the complementary base-pairing rules according to Chargaff’s

rules. (4 marks)

Chargaff’s rules:
1) The base composition of DNA varies between species
The amounts of bases are equal A = T, G = C, and purines = pyrimidines (1m).

2)Purine bases pair up with pyrimidine bases, held together by hydrogen bonds
(1m).

Adenine (A) paired only with Thymine (T) (1m)

Guanine (G) paired only with Cytosine (C) (1m)

*Two-carbon nitrogen ring bases (adenine and guanine) are purines, while the
one-carbon nitrogen ring bases (thymine and cytosine) are pyrimidines.
Question 2

Explain why Meselson and Stahl’s experiment rejected the theory of conservative
replication. (4 marks)

• Bsed on the experiment, bacterial was first grown for several generation in
medium with 15N (heavy isotope) and then were transfered into medium with
14N (lighter isotope) (1m). -optional answer

• Parent DNA had both 2 15N strands (1m). -optional answer

• In the first generation, all the DNA had a density midway between that of heavy
DNA and light DNA (1m). Thus it only contained a band of hybrid DNA (both
strands were a hybrid between 15N and 14N) (1m).

• This dispelled the conservative model of replication (1m). Based on conservative

replication, DNA replication should results in one molecule that consists both
original DNA strands and another molecule that consists of two new strands
(1m).
 Question 3
1. Differentiate between strand X and Y based on the figure below.
Leading strand- strand X (1m)
Made in continuous fashion
Nucleotide added in 5’ to 3’ direction
of the new strand toward replication
fork.
Antiparallel to lagging strand
Only one RNA primer added
(4 marks)
Lagging strand- strand Y (1m)
Made in fragments (okazaki)
Nucleotide added in 5’ to 3’ direction
of the new strand away from the
replication fork.
Antiparallel to leading strand
Several RNA primers added
Question 4

The DNA sequence below control for production of an enzyme in cell signalling
pathway. Transcribe this parent strands during DNA transcription.

3’- TAC AAT GTA ACC CCC CAG AAG TAG GGT ACT-5’

5’- AUG UUA CAU UGG GGG GUC UUC AUC CCA UGA-3’

A=U
C=G
 Question 5
1. Briefly describe differences between initiation stage that happen during transcription
and translation.
(4 marks)

Initiation transcription Initiation translation

Template strand Uses DNA strand Uses mRNA strand
Location Occurs in the nucleus Occurs in the cytoplasm
Event that happen Helicase binds and unwinds Small ribosomal subunit
the double helix and RNA bind with mRNA and a
polymerase attaches to tRNA with the start codon
promoter site (TATA box). (AUG) and the initiation
factors protein bring in
the large subunit forming
the translation initiation
complex.
Starting point RNA Polymerase attaches to Starting point
the transcribing DNA strand
at promoter site (TATA box)/
starting at promoter site
(TATA box) of transcribing
DNA strand
Helicase and RNA Requires helicase and RNA Does not need helicase
polymerase polymerase and RNA Polymerase
requirement
tRNA and Does not require tRNA and Requires tRNA and
ribosome ribosome ribosome
requirement
Question 6

An anticodon of a tRNA has the sequence ‘ATA’.

What amino acid does this tRNA carry?
(1 mark)

-UAU-tyrosine

What would be the effect of the mutation that changes the third nitrogenous base to T
based on the codon stated above?
(1 mark)

-Nonsense mutation (mutation where the altered codon codes is a stop codon).
UAU UAA (stop codon)
Question 7
1. Diagram below shows lac operon in E.coli.

a) Give the name of Z.

(1 mark)
Repressor

b) Briefly explain the effect of allolactose binding tu Z.

(2 marks)

Allolactose acts as an inducer/ allolactose inactivates the repressor (1m) and

turns on transcription (1m).

c) Indicate the operon type for the lac operon.

(1 mark)
Inducible operon
THANK YOU
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by Ms. Rennielyn Rupert 17