Question

Define terms	DNA, RNA, nucleotides, plasmid, helicase, DNA polymerase, primase, RNA primer of DNA replication, mutation, gene, amino acid, polypeptide chain, protein, codon, promoter region of a gene, RNA polymerase, transcription, mRNA, tRNA, RNA, ribosomes, translation, gene expression, conjugation, conjugative pilus, transformation, transduction
Explain concept or process	• Describe how nucleotides are linked together to form a single strand of nucleic acid • Explain the concept of a complementary pairing  • Describe how DNA replication occurs in bacteria  • Explain why a primer is necessary for replication  • Describe the function of the promoter region of a gene  • Describe the role of tRNA molecules in translation  • Describe the role of ribosomes in translation and how translation happens  • Explain the connection between transcription and translation (why does translation rely on transcription)
Compare and contrast	DNA vs RNA  transformation, transduction and conjugation  mRNA, tRNA, rRNA
Apply your knowledge	Understand the relationship between a codon and an amino acid, and be able to translate RNA into protein Explain the significance of the "reading frame" of a gene Be able to recognize mutations and understand their consequence
Know your organisms	Microbes: (what diseases do these microbes cause?)  Escherichia coli (What is the generation time?)  Serratia marcescens (red colonies, urinary tract infection)  Salmonella typhi (and the story of Mary Mallon)  Helicobacter pylori Mycobacterium tuberculosis (mycolic acids, 12 hr gen time)  Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium tetani, Clostridium difficile  (how and why do all of the Clostridium species use endospores?)

         

Answer 1

Define terms

RNA and DNA are polymers made of long chains of nucleotides. A nucleotide consists of a sugar molecule (either ribose in RNA or deoxyribose in DNA) attached to a phosphate group and a nitrogen-containing base. DNA polymerase is an enzyme that synthesizesDNA molecules from deoxyribonucleotides, the building blocks ofDNA. Before replication can take place, an enzyme called helicaseunwinds the DNA molecule from its tightly woven form, in the process breaking the hydrogen bonds between the nucleotide bases. DNA polymerase is an enzyme that synthesizes DNA molecules from deoxyribonucleotides, the building blocks of DNA.

DNA primase is an enzyme involved in the replication of DNA and is a type of RNA polymerase. Primer RNA is RNA that initiates DNA synthesis.

Mutation occurs when a DNA gene is damaged or changed in such a way as to alter the genetic message carried by that gene.

gene is a sequence of nucleotides in DNA or RNA that encodes the synthesis of a gene product, either RNA or protein.

Each polypeptide chain is a series ofamino acids joined together in a specific sequence. Because eachamino acid has a unique R group, a particular amino acid sequence creates a polypeptide whose function is dependent upon its chemical structure.

Proteins large biomolecules, or macromolecules, consisting of one or more long chains of amino acid residues.

promoter is a region of DNA that leads to initiation of transcription of a particular gene. Promoters are located near the transcription start sites of genes, upstream on the DNA. Promoters can be about 100–1000 base pairs long.

codon is a sequence of three DNA or RNA nucleotides that corresponds with a specific amino acid or stop signal during protein synthesis.

RNA polymerase abbreviated RNAP or RNApol, officially DNA-directed RNA polymerase, is an enzyme that synthesizes RNA from a DNA template.

Bacterial conjugation is the transfer of genetic material between bacterial cells by direct cell-to-cell contact or by a bridge-like connection between two cells. This takes place through a pilus.