C. Estrella, Biology 4, Chapter 17 Learning Objectives

 

From Gene to Protein

 

  1. Understand the historical evidence that led to our understanding of the relationship of enzymes, proteins and genes.
  2. Understand the “one gene – one polypeptide” hypothesis
  3. Explain how RNA differs form DNA.
  4. Briefly explain how information flows from gene to protein.
  5. Distinguish between transcription and translation.
  6. Describe where transcription and translation occur in prokaryotes and in eukaryotes and how they differ.
  7. Define codon, and explain what relationship exists between the linear sequence of codons on mRNA and the linear sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide.
  8. List the three stop codons and the one start codon
  9. Explain in what way the genetic code is redundant and unambiguous.
  10. Explain the evolutionary significance of a nearly universal genetic code.
  11. Explain the process of transcription including the three major steps of initiation, elongation, and termination.
  12. Describe the general role of RNA polymerase in transcription.
  13. Explain how RNA polymerase recognizes where transcription should begin.
  14. Specifically, describe the primary functions of RNA polymerase (II).
  15. Distinguish among mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA.
  16. Describe the structure of tRNA and explain how the structure is related to the function.
  17. Given a sequence of bases in DNA, predict the corresponding codons transcribed on mRNA and the corresponding anticodons of tRNA.
  18. Describe the wobble effect.
  19. Describe the structure of a ribosome, and explain how this structure relates to function.
  20. Describe the process of translation including initiation, elongation, and termination.
  21. Explain what determines the primary structure of a protein and describe how a polypeptide must be modified before it becomes fully functional.
  22. Describe the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic mRNA.
  23. Explain how eukaryotic mRNA is processed before it leaves the nucleus.
  24. Describe some biological functions of introns and gene splicing.
  25. Explain why base-pair insertions or deletions usually have a greater effect than base-pair substitutions.
  26. Describe how mutagenesis can occur.