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NS 1021A: Introduction to Biology: Organisms and the Environment

Summer '08 Syllabus: Day 5
July 7

In-Class:
 

  • Lecture/discussion: Structure and function of DNA
  • Activity: DNA models
  • Lecture/activity: Transcription and translation with "DNA Made Easy" kits
  • Lecture/discussion: mutation, control and manipulation of genes

    • Homework:

    For Monday, July 7
    Read ch. 3.8, pages 61 - 62, ch. 8.5, pages 176 - 177, and ch. 9, pages 197 - 219.
    Answer the following questions (also available as a Word document in the class shared folder):

    1. What are the three parts of a nucleotide?
       
    2. What is the difference in the sugars found in DNA from those found in RNA?
       
    3. Which nitrogenous bases are found in DNA?  In RNA?
       
    4. Which bases pair with each other?
       
    5. What is the backbone of a DNA (or RNA) molecule?
       
    6. How does DNA carry information?
       
    7. Look at figure 9.5 on page 202.  Which of the three possible replication methods actually happens for DNA?
       
    8. What is messenger RNA?
       
    9. What codons code for phenylalanine?
       
    10. What is the role of tRNA?
       
    11. What structure holds all the pieces together for protein synthesis?
       
    12. Is it possible for a point mutation to have no effect on the protein for which it codes?
       
    13. What are restriction enzymes?  How do they relate to "sticky ends"?
       
    14. How are plasmids used in genetic engineering?  


    Test question 2 due (see below)

    For Tuesday, July 8
    Read ch. 7.1-7.8, pages 141-153.
    Answer the following questions (also available as a Word document in the class shared folder):

    1. What is the name for the process of cell division in prokaryotes?
       
    2. List the five phases of the eukaryotic cell cycle and what happens during each phase.
       
    3. What is the difference between chromosomes and sister chromatids?
       
    4. What are the four phases of mitosis?
       
    5. What do you think would happen if cell growth and division occured without controls?


    The Scientific Process: Designing experiments (Packing Peanuts) Lab due

    Test question 3 due (see below)

    For Wednesday, July 9
    Read ch. 8.1-8.6, pages 167-183.
    Answer the following questions (also available as a Word document in the class shared folder):
    1. Who was Gregor Mendel?

    2. What is the difference between a gene and an allele?

    3. What is the difference between dominance, incomplete dominance, and codominance?

    4. The majority of traits do not follow normal Mendelian patterns, with one allele dominant over another.  What are other possible explanations for inheritance patterns?

    5. How do genes determine the phenotype of an individual?

    Test question 4 due (see below)

    Test question 3:

    Due Tuesday, July 8
    6 points, about one half page.
  • Compare and contrast DNA and RNA. Include both the structure and function of each.

    • Test question 4:

    Due Wednesday, July 9
    24 points, about two pages.
  • A short section of DNA has the following sequence:

            T A C C A A C C G C T A T C A A A G G C T T T T A C T

    This section of DNA will be used to make a protein
    1. The first step in the process is transcription. What happens during transcription, and what will the result be for the sequence given above?
      (5 points)

    2. The rest of the process is translation.  Explain translation to the final protein, using the sequence given above as an example as you explain each step.  Use the following vocabulary in your explanation:

      codon
      anticodon       		mRNA
      amino acid       		tRNA
      genetic code       		ribosome
      peptide bond

      What is the sequence of this protein (made from the DNA sequence given above?)
      (10 points)

    3. A mutation causes the first "G" in the DNA sequence to become a "C".  What will be the result on the final protein?
      (3 points)

    4. A mutation causes the last "G" in the DNA sequence to become an "A".  What will be the result on the final protein?
      (3 points)

    5. A mutation causes the second "G" in the DNA sequence to become a "C".  What will be the result on the final protein?
      (3 points)

    Vocabulary:

    Nucleic acid
    DNA
    RNA
    nucleotide
    • sugar
    • ribose
    • deoxyribose
    • phosphate
    • nitrogenous base  
      • adenine (A)
      • guanine (G)
      • cytosine (C)
      • thymine(T)
      • uracil (U)
    base pair
    double helix
    complimentarity
    replication
    transcription
    Central dogma: DNA -> RNA -> Protein
    gene expression
    messenger RNA (mRNA)
    translation
    genetic code
    codon
    ribosome
    ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
    transfer RNA (tRNA)
    anticodon
    		 mutation
    point mutation
    base substitution
    redundancy in the code
    insertion
    deletion
    frame-shift mutation
    intron
    exon
    restriction enzyme
    sticky ends
    plasmid



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