BIOC3312: ARRANGEMENT OF

GENES
TUTORIAL 1

1. Which regions of chromosomes are responsible for segregation at mitosis

and meiosis?
2. Give the molecular definition of the gene.
3. What is the relationship between genes and chromosomes?
4. Describe the arrangement (and expression) of prokaryotic and eukaryotic
genes.
5. Where/How is the genetic material in bacterial cells organized?
6. What is the importance of reverse transcription for both RNA viruses and the
evolution of their hosts’ genome?
7. How does the primary processing of mRNA differ between bacteria and
eukaryotes?
8. What are the main post-transcriptional modifications in eukaryotic mRNA
and state their functions.
9. What is the complete genetic material in an organism called?
10. State the differences found in the prokaryotic genome when compared
to that of eukaryotes.
11. What features of a nucleotide sequence can be used to identify active
genes within a genomic DNA?
12. Which group of organism contains the complete coding information for
several polypeptides? What is this group of polypeptides called?
13. What are the gene control elements that would be involved in
regulating the rate of transcription?
14. What is an open reading frame?
15. Name some features of the open reading frame which ensures that
translation yields the same protein product every time.
 16. Discuss the importance and relationship between genome size and
organism complexity.
17. The total amount of DNA in its haploid genome is called the
__________
18. Discuss the C- value paradox of eukaryotic genomes.

TUTORIAL 2

1. What is alternative splicing?

2. What is the name of the process that would be used to establish the identity
of DNA sample by detection of its unique genotypes at minisatellite loci?
3. A DNA sequence that is homologous to a functional gene but does not
produce a functional polypeptide because of deficiencies in the gene is called?
Give an example.
4. What is the organisational difference between gene families and gene
clusters?
5. What is a polycistronic mRNA?
6. What are the gene control elements that would be involve in regulating the
rate of transcription?
7. What is the difference between a linkage map and a physical map?

Past Question

At the beginning of this century there was a general announcement regarding the
sequencing of the human genome and the genomes of many other multicellular
eukaryotes. There was surprise expressed by many that the number of protein-
coding sequences is much smaller than they had expected.

A. Explain what accounted for the rest of the sequences observed in the genome
and discuss 4 examples of these types of sequences. (80 marks)

B. What is the C-value paradox? (20 marks)