02 Molecular Biology for Biotechnology Free Online FlashCards

Which DNA bases pair complementarily?

A pairs with T, and C pairs with G.

What defines a gene?

A gene is a DNA region that produces a functional product: an RNA molecule or, through RNA, a protein.

What happens during transcription?

During transcription, RNA polymerase uses one DNA strand as a template to synthesize complementary RNA.

How can a vector help a host cell produce a gene product?

A vector can carry a chosen gene into a host cell. If the gene is expressed, the cell may produce its encoded RNA or protein.

What does an organism’s genome include?

A genome is an organism’s complete set of DNA, including genes and regulatory and other noncoding sequences.

What happens to introns and exons during RNA processing?

Introns are removed from the initial RNA transcript, while exons are joined together to form the processed RNA.

What is an allele?

Alleles are different versions of a DNA sequence.

Why can cells with essentially the same genome differ?

Cells regulate which genes are active and how much product they make, so cells with essentially the same genome can have different characteristics and functions.

What does PCR do, and what does it use?

PCR uses sequence-specific primers and DNA polymerase to amplify a selected DNA region.

How can alternative splicing diversify a gene’s RNA products?

Alternative splicing joins exons in different combinations, allowing one gene to produce different RNA products.

Why can the effects of a DNA variant differ?

A sequence change may have no noticeable effect, alter gene activity, change a protein, or disrupt a gene product; its effect depends on location and biological context.

How is a eukaryotic initial RNA transcript commonly processed?

Eukaryotic initial RNA transcripts are generally processed, including by adding a cap and poly-A tail and removing introns, to form mature mRNA.