Chapter 9
Microbial Genetics
Study guide
What is the central dogma of molecular biology?
What are the 4 coding units in DNA? In RNA?
Describe the characteristics of DNA
Describe basepairing.
Describe the 3 types of RNA what processes are they used in?
Why do cells replicate their DNA?
Describe the characteristics of DNA replication (bidirectional, semiconservative, etc..)
Describe the enzymes used in DNA replication.
DNA polymerase:
Helicase:
Primase:
DNA ligase:
Describe in a stepwise manner the process of DNA replication.
Differentiate between genotype and phenotype.
What is gene expression?
What is transcription? And describe the important aspects of transcription.
What is translation?
Know how to use the genetic code
What are codons and how many are there? Can more than one codon code for one amino acid?
What is a start codon?
What is a stop codon?
Why do bacteria regulate gene expression?
What is the Lac operon and why is it important?
Describe quorum sensing.
How do multiple resistant strains of bacteria arise?
How are these resistance traits transferred so readily to other bacteria?
What is a mutation?
What is gene transfer?
Describe the 3 different types of point mutations that occur in the DNA. When would these mutations occur?
Why is a insertion or deletion mutation more detrimental to the cell than a substitution mutation?
What is a silent mutation? Why can these exist?
Describe a missense effect on the protein.
Describe a nonsense effect on the protein.
Describe Griffiths experiment. What did this experiment prove or disprove?
Describe the 3 ways genes can be transferred in bacteria.
Why is gene transfer significant?
Why must bacteria rely on mutations and gene transfer for adaption?