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The World of Chemistry Genetic Code SG

Proteins are used in our bodies for structure, transport, and as enzymes. Hemoglobin, which transports oxygen in our blood, contains four subunits with two alpha helices and two beta sheets surrounding an iron atom in each subunit. There are four levels of protein structure: primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary. The binding of oxygen to hemoglobin becomes easier as more oxygen binds. A change in a single amino acid could cause a protein to malfunction, as in sickle cell anemia. DNA uses three nucleotide bases to code for each amino acid during protein synthesis. A gene is a section of DNA that codes for a polypeptide chain. Protein synthesis occurs on ribosomes using transfer RNA and messenger

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
123 views3 pages

The World of Chemistry Genetic Code SG

Proteins are used in our bodies for structure, transport, and as enzymes. Hemoglobin, which transports oxygen in our blood, contains four subunits with two alpha helices and two beta sheets surrounding an iron atom in each subunit. There are four levels of protein structure: primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary. The binding of oxygen to hemoglobin becomes easier as more oxygen binds. A change in a single amino acid could cause a protein to malfunction, as in sickle cell anemia. DNA uses three nucleotide bases to code for each amino acid during protein synthesis. A gene is a section of DNA that codes for a polypeptide chain. Protein synthesis occurs on ribosomes using transfer RNA and messenger

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The World of Chemistry http://www.learner.org/resources/series61.

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Episode 24 - The Genetic Code

1. What are some of the ways mentioned that proteins are used in our bodies?

2. How many subunits are found in hemoglobin? What atom in found in the center of each?

3. Briefly describe the four types of protein structure.

4. What is special about the binding of oxygen in hemoglobin?

5. What may be the result of a change of one amino acid in a protein structure? Give an example.

6. In DNA, how many bases are required to code for one amino acid in protein synthesis?

7. How does the video define a gene?

8. Where does protein synthesis take place?

9. What are the two types of RNA needed to carry out protein synthesis?

10. What can be the result of the improper coding of a protein during its synthesis?

Answer Key
1. What are some of the ways mentioned that proteins are used in our bodies? Structure, transport, enzymes 2. How many subunits are found in hemoglobin? What atom in found in the center of each? There are four subunits, each containing 2 a - helices and 2 b - sheets. An atom of iron is found in the center of each. 3. Briefly describe the four types of protein structure. Primary - the sequence of amino acids in the protein chain Secondary - the formation of a - helices or b - sheets from the protein chain Tertiary - the folding of protein chains into more compact structures Quatrenary structure - the interactions of polypeptide chains in the protein 4. What is special about the binding of oxygen in hemoglobin? The binding of the first oxygen makes it easier for the other oxygens to bind. 5. What may be the result of a change of one amino acid in a protein structure? Give an example. The protein may not function normally. Sickle Cell Anemia 6. In DNA, how many bases are required to code for one amino acid in protein synthesis? Three 7. How does the video define a gene?
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Enough triplets (DNA bases) to code for the synthesis of a polypeptide chain (protein) 8. Where does protein synthesis take place? Ribosomes 9. What are the two types of RNA needed to carry out protein synthesis? Transfer and messenger. 10. What can be the result of the improper coding of a protein during its synthesis? A genetic disease may result - hemophilia, cystic fibrosis, Tay-Sachs Disease

Woodrow Wilson Leadership Program in Chemistry The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation CN 5281, Princeton NJ 08543-5281

[email protected] [email protected] Fax:(609)452-0066

Tel:(609)452-7007

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