Study Guide: DNA, RNA, Proteins

To-Do Date: Mar 1 at 9:30am

Introduction Cartoon:

In the comic, an mRNA strand glares at a smug looking DNA strand. The mRNA says "I'm telling you, Carol.

Amoeba sisters comic of mRNA and DNA

I'm DONE being this guy's messenger boy. He can leave the nucleus and do it himself for all I care!" 

What differences between DNA and RNA can you learn from the comic?

Why is the mRNA calling itself a "messenger?" What message does it carry?

Overview for Week 7 : DNA, RNA, Proteins

Last week we learned the basics about eukaryotic cells, prokaryotic cells and viruses. Now we need to examine each of these structures in more detail.  Specifically, we are going to learn about how DNA controls  cells' functions by controlling which proteins get made in a cell.  In lab, we will delve into one particular group of proteins, called enzymes. 

Weekly Quizzes *

Remember that at the end of each week you will have a quiz on that will be written from the Study Guide Below. 

    • You will have 3 attempts at each quiz.  These will be open book, open notes quizzes.
    • I recommend that you take your first attempt before you begin doing the readings and video watching.
    • Make a note of the type of information you need to answer the quiz.
    • Then you can take notes on that information when reading and watching.
    • The 2nd attempt will be much more successful and allow you to go search for the information that you are still missing, so that your 3rd attempt is clear sailing!

 

Study Guide Week 7 

    1. Nucleic Acids: what are their key features. What are they made of? what roles do they fill for living organisms)? What are chromosomes, genes, alleles,  mRNA, ribosomes?
    2. Proteins: what are their key features? What are they made of? What are the differences between amino acids? How does the amino acid sequence affect folding? How does folding affect shape? How does shape affect function?
    3. What is the relationship between DNA, RNA, proteins and traits ?  How does the DNA get transcribed into RNA? How does the RNA get translated into protein? What is the relationship between the DNA sequence of a gene and the mRNA sequence and the protein amino acid sequence? What is the relationship between proteins amino acid sequence, protein folding and protein function? 
    4. How do Mutations Change to Protein Structure and Function? Given a DNA sequence and the genetic code, be able to transcribe this into mRNA, translate the mRNA into a protein's amino acid sequence.  Given the same sequence but with a  mutation, be able to transcribe and translate. This could be a point mutation or an insertion/deletion mutation. 
    5.  Enzymes: What are key features of enzymes? - this will be covered in lab. What is their function? How does the amino acid sequence determine the folding, shape and shape of the active site?  What is the function of the active site?  How does the amino acid sequence of the enzyme determine the specificity of the enzyme? How do enzymes affect chemical reactions? Are enzymes reusable? Are enzyme specific?  How does temperature affect the activity and function of an enzyme? Do all enzymes have the same temperature optimum?

 

Assessment Problem Set Questions *

Remember that the COVID  Assessment will be in the form of problems, short answers and paragraph essay questions. The questions below will be on the Unit Assessment. The entire Unit Assessment will be due at the end of week 14, but you will be able to work on it as you go along.

    • This will be open book, open notes AND you may work on it with anyone you would like - myself, fellow student, tutor, etc
    • BUT, your answers MUST be in your own words. 

Assessment Questions from Week 7 

C3. Explain why a  mutation might have no impact, a small impact or a large impact on a protein's structure and function. In order to answer this question you will need to explain about DNA, mutations, mRNA, codons, amino acid side chains,  amino acid interactions, and protein folding. 

C4. Explain the relationship between DNA sequence of a gene and the traits of an organism. You will need to include an explanation of genes, protein shape and function and phenotype. 

DNA Mutations and Phenotype.png