Biot Ch 2 — Gene expression

Content 1. What is Gene

2. How can a gene determine a trait
3. Transcription
4. Translation
5. Concept check

What is Gene

= the basic physical unit of inheritance

determines a trait(a characteristic of an organism) of DNA.
Genes 1) Protein-coding genes
2) Non-coding genes

How can a gene determine a trait?

- genetic info in gene -> RNA -> protein -> trait

- Transcription
genetic info in sequence of base in DNA -> sequence of base in RNA
- Translation
genetic info in sequence of base in RNA -> sequence of amino acid in Protein

e.g. Gene (GTCGCA) -> RNA(CAGCGU) -> Protein(Gln-Arg) -> Trait(black hair)
the sequence of base in DNA the sequence of base in RNA amino acid color

Transcription

Meaning genetic info in sequence of base of a gene on DNA -> RNA

Take place in 1) nucleus in eukaryotic cells

2) cytoplasm in prokaryotic cells (∵ it doesn’t contain nucleus)

Materials 1) DNA (template)

2) RNA nucleotides (A, U, C, G)
3) RNA polymerase (enzyme facilitating transcription)

1
Process 1) Separate the DNA double strands

2) RNA polymerase moving along the part template strand we want

3) ‘A’ -> ‘U’ ‘T’ -> ‘A’ ‘C’ -> ‘G’ ‘G’ -> ‘C’

4) RNA polymerase detach from the DNA template strand

5) RNA is released from the DNA and go to the ribosome though the
nuclear pore

6) DNA restores / reforms as double helical structure

Translation

Meaning gene info in sequence of base of a gene on RNA-> Amino acids of

protein

Take place in 1) ribosome of rough ER in eukaryotic cells

2) free-floating ribosome in cytoplasm in eukaryotic & prokaryotic cells

Materials 1) RNA (template)

2) Amino acids
3) Ribosome (facilitating translation)

2
 Process 1) RNA attaches on ribosome

2) Separate 3 bases in groups called ‘codons’

3) Pair up amino acids with codons on the RNA

4) Amino acids joined together -> chain by ribosome

5) Amino acid chain detach from the ribosome

6) Amino acid chain fold into protein

*if the ‘stop’ codon is in the middle, just stop identifying the amino
acid as the ribosome won’t translate anymore **

Concept check

DNA template strand (TACGACAAC)

Coding strand = complementary strand (ATGCTGTTG)
RNA sequence (AUGCUGUUG)

Codons (AUG / CUG / UUG) -> Amino acids 3-letter abbreviations(Met - Leu - Leu)
1-letter abbreviations(M - L - L)

1. Changes in the third position of a codon cause less undesirable effect than changes made
to the first or second position of a condon. True
2. A codon is a sequence of 3 DNA nucleotides. False (DNA RNA)

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