DNA structure + Protein synthesis

• What is DNA?

  Genetic material that determines inherited features
• Describe the structure of DNA

  Two polymer strands in a double helix shape
• What are the repeating units in DNA?

  Nucleotides
• What is a gene and function?

  • Gene is a small section of DNA
  • Codes for a specific protein
• What is a genome?

  • The entire genetic material of an organism
• How does the DNA nucleotide look like?

  • Sugar molecule attached to phosphates and base
  • The phosphate and sugar group never changes
• How many bases does a nucleotide have and their names?

  • Four
  • A C G T
  • A and T are complimentary
• What can be said about the bases on the DNA strand?

  • They're complimentary to each other
• What is a mutation?

  • Change to a base
• At times, why does mutation not change the shape of a protein?

  Different bases can code for the same amino acids/proteins
• Do most mutations have an effect on the protein?

  • No
• What happens when a mutation affects the shape of a protein?

  • Enzyme might no longer be complementary to substrate
  • Protein might lose its strength
• What do non coding parts of a chromosome do?

  Switch certain genes on/off
• What do mutations in non coding genes affect?

  • How genes are expressed
  • This might led to gene turning on/off and a protein is produced at the wrong time
  • Can lead to cancer