2.

7 DNA Replication, Transcription and Translation

DNA Replication

Explain how DNA replication is semi-conservative

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dna replication is semi-conservative bceause when new dna molecules form they arer composed of
one strand from the original template and one newly synthesized.
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Outline how the results of the Meselson-Stahl experiment supported semi-conservative DNA replication
They used 15N, a rare isotope of nitrogen that has one more neutron than the normal 14N isotope, so is
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denser. Meselson and Stahl cultured the bacterium E. coli for fourteen generations in a medium where the
only nitrogen source was 15N. Almost all nitrogen atoms in the bases of the DNA in the bacteria were
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therefore 15N. They then transferred the bacteria abruptly to a medium in which all the nitrogen was 14N. .
Samples of the bacteria were taken over a period of time and separated by density gradient centrifugation,
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a method in which heavier molecules settle further down in acentrifuge tube than lighter ones.

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Describe the role of the following enzymes in DNA replication
an enzyme required for DNA unwinding
Helicase: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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DNA Polymerase: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

catalyzes the synthesis of DNA molecules

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Explain the significance of complementary base pairing in the conservation of base sequence

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it allows the base pairs to be arranged in the most energetically favorable way, it is essential in
forming the helical structure of dna and its also important in replication as it allows
semiconservative replication
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State when and where DNA replication happens in a typical eukaryotic cell
happens inside the nucleus during S phase
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Describe the purpose and process of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

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polymerase chain reaction (3 proccesses:)
- denaturation

- annealing
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- elongation


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pcr is a chemical reaction that molecular biologists use to amplify
pieces of dna - it allows a single or a few copies of dna to be


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replicated into millions

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Transcription

Define transcription
transcription is the process of copying a segment of DNA into RNA
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Distinguish between sense and antisense strands
sense strand is incapable of being transcribed into mrna whereas antisense strand serves as the template
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for the transcription
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Outline the role of RNA polymerase in the process of transcription
they are the molecules used during transcription
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Convert the following DNA sequence into an RNA transcript

T A C A A A T T C G T A C T G C A C T C C G G A A C A A C T
AUGUUUAAGCAUGACGUGAGGCCUUGUUG
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A

Translation

Define translation

translation is the process in which ribosomes synthesize proteins after the process of transcription in
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the cell's nucleus
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Describe the function of the genetic code (including degeneracy)

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its the set of rules with converted instructions contained in the dna. its universal, unambiguous, and redundant
and animals and other organisms all are coded this way too. degeneracy is when structurally different components
can perform similar functions and are interchangeable but only under certain conditions
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Identifying the key components of the process of translation

M ………………………………………………………………………………………………
rna

R ………………………………………………………………………………………………
ibosomes





odons
C ………………………………………………………………………………………………

A ………………………………………………………………………………………………
mino acids

rna

T ………………………………………………………………………………………………

tp
A ………………………………………………………………………………………………
olypeptide
P ………………………………………………………………………………………………

P ……………………………………………………………………………………………… Hint: Mr Cat App

Summarise the process of translation

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cutting out introns and sticking extrons, the messenger gets a 5' cap and a 3' poly-A tail, it needs
the cap or else cytozol would DESTROY IT, spliceosome produces a mature messenger string.
present in the cytoplazm is an enzyme, tRNA rybosomes do a synthesis of proteins to dna triplets
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and then they form a peptide bond!

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Use the genetic code to convert the following DNA
sequence into a polypeptide sequence

TAC AAA TTC GTA CTG CAC TCC GGA ACA ACT
AUG UUU AAG CAU GAC GUG AGG CCU UGU UGA
RNA: ………………………………………………………………….
met, phe, lys, his, asp, val, arg, pro, cys, STOP
Protein: ……………………………………………………………..

Outline the effect of the following mutations:
CAU - CAA
his -> gln
GTA → GTT: ………………………………………………………
AGG -> AGA
arg -> arg
TCC → TCT: ………………………………………………………

Describe the different types of point mutations
cystic fibrosis which is a recessive inherited disorder caused by a deletion of three nucleotides in the cystic fibrosis
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transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. sickle cell anemia - a recessive disorder caused by a single
substitution in the gene that creates hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in the blood. tay-sachs - another recessive
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disorder caused by point mutations

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Outline the significance of a frameshift mutation

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a type of mutation involving the insertion or deletion of a nucleotide in which the number of deleted
base pairs is not divisible by three - and that is actually very important because the cell reads a gene
in groups of three bases.
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Use the following image to explain how the universality of the genetic code allows for gene transfer

Insulin gene

Human Cell

Grow in Extract

Recombinant

Transgenic culture insulin

Plasmid bacteria

Bacteria Plasmid

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its very useful and it allows gene transfer because all things are coded in the same genetic code, therefore if
one organism would be lacking a certain organ or compound, it can be extracted from a different organism
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