lecture 14 - central dogma

• What is the central dogma of molecular biology?

  From DNA, to RNA, to protein

  
• What does "information flow" refer to in the context of genetics?

  It refers to how genetic information is expressed and passed on
• How does the cell build proteins from information stored in DNA?

  Through the processes of transcription and translation

  
• What are the three main components of a nucleotide?

  Phosphate group, pentose sugar, and nitrogenous base
• What are the two types of nitrogenous bases in nucleic acids?

  • Pyrimidines: Cytosine (C), Thymine (T, in DNA), Uracil (U, in RNA)
  • Purines: Adenine (A), Guanine (G)
• What is Chargaff's rule regarding DNA bases?

  In DNA, there is always equality between the bases A and T, and between G and C
• What is the direction of transcription in the central dogma?

  Transcription occurs in the 5’→3’ direction
• What are the three phases of protein biosynthesis (translation)?

  1. Initiation: Ribosome and tRNA form complex at mRNA start site (AUG)
  2. Elongation: Amino acids are added to the growing peptide chain
  3. Termination: Ends when a stop codon reaches the A site
• What is the role of ribosomes in translation?

  Ribosomes use mRNA templates to synthesize proteins
• How do tRNA molecules function during translation?

  tRNA molecules bring amino acids to the ribosome complex

  
• How do codons relate to amino acids?

  Codons are sequences of three bases that encode specific amino acids

  
• What amino acid does the codon GCA correspond to?

  Ala (Alanine)
• What is the function of RNA polymerase in transcription?

  RNA polymerase synthesizes a new mRNA strand from the DNA template
• What happens during the elongation phase of translation?

  Amino acids are added one by one to the C-terminus of the growing peptide chain

  
• What is the significance of the stop codon during translation?

  The stop codon signals the end of protein synthesis

  
• What is the role of the spliceosome in gene expression?

  The spliceosome removes introns from pre-mRNA
• How does cell division relate to the central dogma?

  Cell division involves the transmission of genetic information from parent cells to offspring cells
• What is the relationship between inheritance and the central dogma?


  Inheritance involves the passing of genetic information from one generation to the next