Nucleic Acid and Protein Synthesis

Study Guide

1.         Compare transcription and translation.

2.         What is the purpose of DNA?

3.         Compare the versions of the genetic code found in humans and amoeba.

4.         Describe the structure of the three types of RNA.

5.         Describe the function of the three types of RNA.

6.         Describe the structure of tRNA.

7.         Compare the structures of DNA and RNA.

8.         What is the purpose of the complementary DNA strand?

9.         Explain the significance of the start and stop codons.

10.       What is the relationship of the start codon to the promoter region of DNA?

11.       List the steps of DNA replication.

12.       What is the difference between a purine and pyrimidine?

13.       How are the two strands of DNA bonded together to form a double helix?

14.       Why is the process of replication important?

15.       What roles do enzymes play in the replication process?

16.       How is the sequence of bases in DNA reflected in the transcribed sequence of bases in RNA?

17.       Why is the presence of nuclear pores advantageous for the movement of RNA?

18.       Distinguish a codon from an anticodon and explain the significance of each?

19.       How does the physical structure of RNA relate to its function?

20.       Explain why the genetic code is said to be universal.

21.       How is a DNA molecule duplicated in the process of replication?

22.       What roles do enzymes play in the transcription process?

23.       What functions are carried out by those codons that do not code for amino acids?

24.       What is the role of the ribosome in protein synthesis?

25.       How is the structure of the ribosome related to its function?

26.       Would a system using two bases be able to code for the 20 amino acids? Explain your answer.

27.       What monomers bind to make nucleic acids?

28.       What monomers bind to make proteins?

29.       Explain the genetic code.

30.       What type of bond forms between the bases of DNA?

31.       What are the two functions of RNA polymerase?

32.       What evidence from the genetic code leads to the hypothesis that all organisms had a common source?

33.       What is the purpose of the small unit of the ribosome?

34.       What is the purpose of the large unit of the ribosome?

35.       The ribosome completes the primary structure of the protein. Where are the secondary and tertiary structures completed?

36.       What is a transcriptional unit?

37.       What is antisense RNA?

38.       How does the cell treat MicroRNA?

39.       What is the effect of MicroRNA on normally transcribed mRNA?

40.       What organelle is affected by RNA enzymes?

41.       Where is the code for an RNA riboswitch found?

42.       What is the purpose of the folded non-coding part of a riboswitch?

43.       When does the coding part of a riboswitch produce protein?