Unit 6: Gene Expression and Regulation
Mastery Checklist
Unit 6: Gene Expression and Regulation
Mastery Checklist
❏ Describe the structures involved in passing hereditary information from one generation to the
next.
❏ Describe the structure of DNA.
❏ Describe the structure of RNA.
❏ Discuss how DNA is used to store and pass on genetic information.
❏ Compare and contrast prokaryotic and eukaryotic chromosomes.
❏ Describe the characteristics of DNA that allow it to be used as the hereditary material.
❏ Discuss how nucleotides participate in base pairing.
❏ Name the purines and describe them.
❏ Name the pyrimidines and describe them.
❏ Describe the mechanisms by which genetic information is copied for transmission between
generation.
❏ Explain how DNA replication ensures continuity of hereditary information.
❏ Explain how DNA is synthesized in the 5’ to 3’ direction.
❏ Illustrate how DNA replication is a semi-conservative process.
❏ Define the role of helicase.
❏ Define the role of topoisomerase.
❏ Explain how RNA primers are used to initiate DNA synthesis.
❏ Outline the similarities and differences between DNA synthesis on the leading strand and
lagging strands.
❏ Define the role of ligase.
❏ Describe the mechanism by which genetic information flows from DNA to RNA to protein.
❏ Relate the sequence of RNA bases to the function of the RNA molecule.
❏ Describe the three types of RNA molecules.
❏ Explain how genetic information is coded from DNA molecules into RNA molecules.
❏ Explain how genetic information in RNA molecules is used to make proteins.
❏ Explain the role of RNA polymerase in transcription.
❏ Discuss alternative names of the template strand.
❏ Explain how the template strand is chosen by the cell.
❏ Discuss the modifications that are made to mRNA in eukaryotic cells.
❏ Explain the difference between introns and exons..
❏ Define alternative splicing.
❏ Explain how the phenotype of an organism is determined by its genotype.
❏ Describe the location of translation.
❏ Identify when translation occurs in prokaryotic cells.
❏ State the steps of translation.
❏ State what is needed for translation to begin.
❏ Illustrate the structure of mRNA.
❏ Discuss codons and explain how to use a codon chart.
❏ Explain how this use of the genetic code is used for evidence of common ancestry.
❏ Define the role of tRNA in translation.
❏ State the role of a stop codon, and explain what happens when it is reached.
❏ Explain what happens at the end of translation.
❏ Discuss how retroviruses utilize an alternate flow of information from RNA to DNA.
❏ Describe the structures involved in passing hereditary information from one generation to the
next.
❏ Describe the structure of DNA.
❏ Describe the structure of RNA.
❏ Discuss how DNA is used to store and pass on genetic information.
❏ Compare and contrast prokaryotic and eukaryotic chromosomes.
❏ Describe the characteristics of DNA that allow it to be used as the hereditary material.
❏ Discuss how nucleotides participate in base pairing.
❏ Name the purines and describe them.
❏ Name the pyrimidines and describe them.
❏ Describe the mechanisms by which genetic information is copied for transmission between
generation.
❏ Explain how DNA replication ensures continuity of hereditary information.
❏ Explain how DNA is synthesized in the 5’ to 3’ direction.
❏ Illustrate how DNA replication is a semi-conservative process.
❏ Define the role of helicase.
❏ Define the role of topoisomerase.
❏ Explain how RNA primers are used to initiate DNA synthesis.
❏ Outline the similarities and differences between DNA synthesis on the leading strand and
lagging strands.
❏ Define the role of ligase.
❏ Describe the mechanism by which genetic information flows from DNA to RNA to protein.
❏ Relate the sequence of RNA bases to the function of the RNA molecule.
❏ Describe the three types of RNA molecules.
❏ Explain how genetic information is coded from DNA molecules into RNA molecules.
❏ Explain how genetic information in RNA molecules is used to make proteins.
❏ Explain the role of RNA polymerase in transcription.
❏ Discuss alternative names of the template strand.
❏ Explain how the template strand is chosen by the cell.
❏ Discuss the modifications that are made to mRNA in eukaryotic cells.
❏ Explain the difference between introns and exons..
❏ Define alternative splicing.
❏ Explain how the phenotype of an organism is determined by its genotype.
❏ Describe the location of translation.
❏ Identify when translation occurs in prokaryotic cells.
❏ State the steps of translation.
❏ State what is needed for translation to begin.
❏ Illustrate the structure of mRNA.
❏ Discuss codons and explain how to use a codon chart.
❏ Explain how this use of the genetic code is used for evidence of common ancestry.
❏ Define the role of tRNA in translation.
❏ State the role of a stop codon, and explain what happens when it is reached.
❏ Explain what happens at the end of translation.
❏ Discuss how retroviruses utilize an alternate flow of information from RNA to DNA.
❏ Describe the types of interactions that regulate gene expression.
❏ Define regulatory sequences.
❏ Explain how epigenetic changes play a role in gene expression.
❏ Discuss how the levels at which genes are expressed can influence the phenotype of a cell or
organism.
❏ Explain how the location of regulatory sequences relates to their function.
❏ Define operons.
❏ Discuss the role of operons in prokaryotes.
❏ Define transcription factors.
❏ Discuss the role of transcription factors in eukaryotes.
❏ Explain how the binding of transcription factors to promoter regions affects gene expression
and/or the phenotype of the organism.
❏ Explain how promoters function.
❏ Discuss how negative regulatory molecules can affect gene expression.
❏ Explain the connection between the regulation of gene expression and phenotypic differences
in cells and organisms.
❏ Explain the impact of gene regulation.
❏ Define the role of RNA molecules in regulating gene expression.
❏ Describe the various types of mutation.
❏ Explain how changes in genotype result in changes in phenotype.
❏ Discuss the possible consequences to alterations in a DNA sequence.
❏ Explain how changes in genotype may result in changes in phenotype.
❏ Explain how random mutations in DNA can occur.
❏ Define the primary source of genetic variation.
❏ Explain how errors in mitosis or meiosis can result in changes in phenotype.
❏ Define polyploidy, and provide examples.
❏ Explain how alterations in DNA sequences contribute to variation that can be subject to natural
selection.
❏ Discuss how changes in phenotype can lead to natural selection in a species.
❏ Explain the use of genetic engineering techniques in analyzing or manipulating DNA.
❏ Explain how gel electrophoresis separates DNA fragments.
❏ Explain the outcome of polymerase chain reaction.
❏ Explain how bacterial transformation occurs.
❏ Explain how DNA sequencing determines the order of nucleotides in a DNA molecule.
❏ Describe the types of interactions that regulate gene expression.
❏ Define regulatory sequences.
❏ Explain how epigenetic changes play a role in gene expression.
❏ Discuss how the levels at which genes are expressed can influence the phenotype of a cell or
organism.
❏ Explain how the location of regulatory sequences relates to their function.
❏ Define operons.
❏ Discuss the role of operons in prokaryotes.
❏ Define transcription factors.
❏ Discuss the role of transcription factors in eukaryotes.
❏ Explain how the binding of transcription factors to promoter regions affects gene expression
and/or the phenotype of the organism.
❏ Explain how promoters function.
❏ Discuss how negative regulatory molecules can affect gene expression.
❏ Explain the connection between the regulation of gene expression and phenotypic differences
in cells and organisms.
❏ Explain the impact of gene regulation.
❏ Define the role of RNA molecules in regulating gene expression.
❏ Describe the various types of mutation.
❏ Explain how changes in genotype result in changes in phenotype.
❏ Discuss the possible consequences to alterations in a DNA sequence.
❏ Explain how changes in genotype may result in changes in phenotype.
❏ Explain how random mutations in DNA can occur.
❏ Define the primary source of genetic variation.
❏ Explain how errors in mitosis or meiosis can result in changes in phenotype.
❏ Define polyploidy, and provide examples.
❏ Explain how alterations in DNA sequences contribute to variation that can be subject to natural
selection.
❏ Discuss how changes in phenotype can lead to natural selection in a species.
❏ Explain the use of genetic engineering techniques in analyzing or manipulating DNA.
❏ Explain how gel electrophoresis separates DNA fragments.
❏ Explain the outcome of polymerase chain reaction.
❏ Explain how bacterial transformation occurs.
❏ Explain how DNA sequencing determines the order of nucleotides in a DNA molecule.