Edexcel (B) Biology A-level

1.4 - DNA and protein synthesis

Flashcards

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Draw the structure of a nucleotide.

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Draw the structure of a nucleotide.

Answer

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Name the pentose sugars in DNA &
RNA.

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Name the pentose sugars in DNA & RNA.

DNA: deoxyribose
RNA: ribose

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Describe how polynucleotide strands
form.

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Describe how polynucleotide strands form.

Condensation reactions between

nucleotides form strong phosphodiester
bonds (sugar-phosphate backbone).
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Describe the structure of DNA.

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Describe the structure of DNA.

Double helix of 2 deoxyribose

polynucleotide strands (so there are 2
sugar-phosphate backbones).
H-bonds between complementary base
pairs on opposite strands (AT & GC).
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Name the purine bases and describe
their structure.

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Name the purine bases and describe their structure.

adenine C5H5N5

guanine C5H5N5O

two-ring
molecules

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Name the pyrimidine bases and describe
their structure.

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Name the pyrimidine bases and describe their
structure.
one-ring molecules
thymine C5H6N2O2 cytosine C4H5N3O uracil C4H4N2O2

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Name the complementary base pairs in
DNA.

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Name the complementary base pairs in DNA.

2 H-bonds between
adenine (A) + thymine (T)
3 H-bonds between
guanine (G) + cytosine (C)
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Name the complementary base pairs in
RNA.

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Name the complementary base pairs in RNA.

2 H-bonds between
adenine (A) + uracil (U)
3 H-bonds between
guanine (G) + cytosine (C)
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Why is DNA replication described as
semiconservative?

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Why is DNA replication described as
semiconservative?

Strands from original DNA molecule act

as templates.
New DNA molecule contains 1 old strand
& 1 new strand.
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Explain the role of DNA helicase in
semiconservative replication.

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Explain the role of DNA helicase in semiconservative
replication.

Breaks H-bonds between base pairs to

form 2 single strands, each of which can
act as a template.

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How is a new strand formed during
semiconservative replication?

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How is a new strand formed during semiconservative
replication?
1. Free nucleotides from nuclear sap attach to
exposed bases by complementary base pairing.
2. DNA polymerase joins adjacent nucleotides on
new strand in a 5’ → 3’ direction via condensation
reactions to form phosphodiester bonds.
3. H-bonds reform.
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Explain the role of DNA ligase.

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Explain the role of DNA ligase.

Leading strand is replicated continuously in same

direction as replication fork. Lagging strand is
replicated in Okazaki fragments in the opposite
direction.
DNA ligase joins gaps in fragments to form a
continuous strand.
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Define gene.

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Define gene.

A sequence of bases on a DNA molecule

that codes for a specific sequence of
amino acids to make a polypeptide. Can
also code for functional RNA.
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Describe the structure of messenger
RNA (mRNA).

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Describe the structure of messenger RNA (mRNA).
● Long ribose polynucleotide with sugar-phosphate
backbone.
● Nitrogenous bases: A, U, G, C.
● Single-stranded & linear (no H-bonds between
complementary base pairs).
● Codon sequence is complementary to exons of 1
gene from 1 DNA strand.
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Describe the structure of transfer RNA
(tRNA).

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Describe the structure of transfer RNA (tRNA).

● Single strand folded into clover shape (some

paired bases).
● Anticodon on one end, amino acid binding site
on the other.
a. anticodon binds to complementary mRNA codon
b. amino acid corresponds to anticodon
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What does transcription produce and
where does it occur?

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What does transcription produce and where does it
occur?

produces mRNA
occurs in nucleus

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Outline the process of transcription.

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Outline the process of transcription.
1. RNA polymerase binds to promoter region on a gene.
2. Section of DNA uncoils into 2 strands with exposed
bases. Antisense strand acts as template.
3. Free nucleotides are attracted to their complementary
bases.
4. RNA polymerase joins adjacent nucleotides to form
phosphodiester bonds.
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What happens after a strand of mRNA is
transcribed?

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What happens after a strand of mRNA is
transcribed?
● RNA polymerase detaches at terminator region.
● H-bonds reform & DNA rewinds.
● Splicing removes introns from pre-mRNA in
eukaryotic cells.
● mRNA moves out of nucleus via nuclear pore &
attaches to ribosome.
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State the function of mRNA.

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State the function of mRNA.

Transfers genetic code from DNA in

nucleus to ribosomes for translation into
a specific polypeptide.

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What is the antisense strand of DNA?

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What is the antisense strand of DNA?

Template strand of DNA which is

transcribed.

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What is the sense strand of DNA?

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What is the sense strand of DNA?

Strand with the same base sequence as

mRNA (but with thymine instead of
uracil).

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What does translation produce and
where does it occur?

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What does translation produce and where does it
occur?

Produces proteins.
Occurs in cytoplasm on ribosomes.

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Outline the process of translation.

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Outline the process of translation.
1. Ribosome moves along mRNA until ‘start’ codon.
2. tRNA anticodon attaches to complementary bases
on mRNA.
3. Condensation reactions between amino acids on
tRNA form peptide bonds.
4. Process continues to form polypeptide chain until
‘stop’ codon is reached.
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State the role of ATP during translation.

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State the role of ATP during translation.

ATP hydrolysis provides energy to form

peptide bonds.

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Describe 3 features of the genetic code.

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Describe 3 features of the genetic code.
● Non-overlapping: each triplet is only read once.
● Degenerate: more than one triplet codes for the
same amino acid (64 possible triplets for 20
amino acids).
● Universal: same bases and sequences used by
all species.
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What are DNA triplets?

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What are DNA triplets?

Sequences of 3 bases that code for a

particular amino acid.

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What is a start codon?

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What is a start codon?

Nucleotide triplet AUG on mRNA codes

for the amino acid Met & initiates
translation of a polypeptide.

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What is a stop codon?

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What is a stop codon?

Nucleotide triplets on mRNA which do

not code for an amino acidd & terminate
translation:
UAA, UAG, UGA
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What are exons and introns?

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What are exons and introns?
Exons: regions of DNA that code for amino
acid sequences. Separated by one or more
introns.
Introns: majority of DNA consists of
non-coding regions within and between
genes.
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What is a mutation?

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What is a mutation?

Any change in the base sequence of

DNA. Often arise spontaneously during
DNA replication.
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What is a substitution mutation?

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What is a substitution mutation?

One nucleotide in the DNA sequence is

replaced by another. This is more likely
to be a silent mutation which does not
change amino acid sequence.
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What is a deletion mutation?

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What is a deletion mutation?

A nucleotide in the DNA sequence is lost,

leading to a frame shift. Significant
since entire amino acid sequence
downstream of mutation will be different.
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What is an insertion mutation?

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What is an insertion mutation?

Addition of one or more base pairs to

DNA sequence, often in microsatellite
regions. Causes frameshift. Significant
since entire amino acid sequence
downstream of mutation will be different.
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What is sickle cell anaemia?

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What is sickle cell anaemia?

Genetic condition that results in

abnormal haemoglobin. Impaired ability
to transport oxygen = rapid heart rate,
fatigue, dizziness. Sickle shaped red
blood cells ‘stick’ in vessels.
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What causes sickle cell anaemia in
humans?

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Missense point mutation in gene that codes for 𝛽
What causes sickle cell anaemia in humans?

strand in haemoglobin.
On DNA: CTC (Glut) → CAC (Val)
Change in primary structure = different tertiary
structure. Abnormal haemoglobin molecules form
strands that make red blood cells sickle shaped.
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