DNA Structure, Replication, Translation and Transcription Study Guide
A. Structure and Function of DNA
1.
What is the main function of DNA?
2.
Draw a nucleotide. Label the three parts. Write the names of the four different base options for a nucleotide of DNA.
3.
What forms the backbone of the DNA molecule?
4.
What forms the rungs (inside) of the DNA molecule?
5.
Identify the types and locations of covalent bonds and hydrogen bonds in a
DNA molecule.
6.
List the base pairing rules. State which bases are purines and which bases are pyrimidines.
7.
What did you learn from the reading (or watching Watson) of the journal article that you didn’t know before?
B. DNA Replication/Types of RNA
1. What is the goal of DNA replication? When would a cell need to perform DNA replication?
2. List the two enzymes involved with DNA replication and describe their roles.
Enzyme Role

3. Describe one way DNA is checked for errors.
4. List the three types of RNA, their structure and their role in making proteins.
RNA Structure Role
5. List three structural differences between RNA and DNA. List two things they have in common.
C. Process of Transcription
1. Define transcription.
2. Describe the significance of promoter regions and termination signals in DNA.
3. Name and describe the function of the enzyme involved with transcription.
4. What are the products of transcription?
D. Process of Translation
1. Distinguish between a codon and an anticodon and explain the significance of each.
2. Describe the overall process of what happens in translation.

3. Explain the significance of the start codon and the stop codons.
4. What would translation of the mRNA transcript AAA-CAA-GGA-GCA-UCC produce?
E. Mutation
1. Describe what a point mutation is and describe three different point mutations.