Molecular Biology of the Gene
Chapter 10 Objectives
The Structure of the Genetic Material
10.1 Describe the experiments of Griffith, Hershey, and Chase, which supported the idea that
DNA was life’s genetic material.
10.2–10.3 Compare the structures of DNA and RNA.
10.3 Explain how Chargaff’s rules relate to the structure of DNA.
DNA Replication
10.4 Explain how the structure of DNA facilitates its replication.
10.5 Describe the process of DNA replication. Describe the mechanisms that correct errors
caused by environmental damage or errors from replication.
The Flow of Genetic Information from DNA to RNA to Protein
10.6 Describe the locations, reactants, and products of transcription and translation.
10.7–10.8 Explain how the “languages” of DNA and RNA are used to produce polypeptides.
10.9 Explain how RNA is produced.
10.10 Explain how eukaryotic RNA is processed before leaving the nucleus.
10.11 Relate the structure of tRNA to its functions in the process of translation.
10.12 Describe the structure and function of ribosomes.
10.13 Explain how translation begins.
10.14 Describe the step-by-step process by which amino acids are added to a growing polypeptide
chain.
10.15 Diagram the overall process of transcription and translation.
10.16 Describe the major types of mutations, causes of mutations, and possible consequences.
Microbial Genetics
10.17 Compare the lytic and lysogenic reproductive cycles of a phage.
10.18 Compare the structures and reproductive cycles of an enveloped RNA virus and a
herpesvirus.
10.19 Describe three processes that contribute to the emergence of viral disease.
10.19 Explain why RNA viruses tend to have an unusually high rate of mutation.
10.20 Explain how the AIDS virus enters a host cell and reproduces.
10.21 Describe the structure of viroids and prions and explain how they cause disease.
10.22 Define and compare the processes of transformation, transduction, and conjugation.
10.23 Describe the roles of bacterial F factors. Define a plasmid and explain why R plasmids
pose serious human health problems.
adenine (A)
AIDS
anticodon
bacteriophage
capsid
codon
conjugation
cytosine (C)
DNA ligase
DNA polymerase
double helix
emerging virus
exon
F factor
genetic code
guanine (G)
HIV
intron
lysogenic cycle
lytic cycle
messenger RNA (mRNA)
molecular biology
mRNA
mutagen
mutagenesis
mutation
nucleotide
P site
phage
plasmid
polynucleotide
prion
promoter
prophage
R plasmid
reading frame
retrovirus
reverse transcriptase
ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
RNA polymerase
RNA splicing
rRNA
semiconservative model
start codon
stop codon
sugar-phosphate
backbone
terminator
thymine (T)
transcription
transduction
transfer RNA (tRNA)
transformation
translation
triplet code
tRNA
uracil (U)
viroid
virus
You should now be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Compare and contrast the structures of DNA and RNA
Describe how DNA replicates
Explain how a protein is produced
Distinguish between the functions of mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA in translation
Determine DNA, RNA, and protein sequences when given any complementary
sequence
6. Distinguish between exons and introns and describe the steps in RNA processing
that lead to a mature mRNA
7. Explain the relationship between DNA genotype and the action of proteins in
influencing phenotype
8. Distinguish between the effects of base substitution and insertion or deletion
mutations
9. Distinguish between lytic and lysogenic viral reproductive cycles and describe
how RNA viruses are duplicated within a host cell
10. Explain how an emerging virus can become a threat to human health
11. Identify three methods of transfer for bacterial genes
12. Distinguish between viroids and prions
13. Describe the effects of transferring plasmids from donor to recipient cells