Biology I (H) NAME:_____________________________ _______
Study Guide: C H 10 N UCLEIC A CIDS & P ROTEIN S YNTHESIS
E. S. Gustafson PERIOD: ____
S ECTION 10-1: DNA
Four features of DNA structure :
1)
2)
3)
4)
Two functions of DNA :
1)
2)
Three features of DNA nucleotide structure : Label these features on the diagram provided .
1)
2)
3)
What does the arrow in the diagram indicate ? _______________________________
Four nitrogenous bases found in DNA & their abbreviations :
Purines : Pyrimidines :
1) 3)
2) 4)
Basic structure _________________________ Basic structure _________________________
State the base-pairing rules that explain how the nitrogenous bases form complimentary base pairs .
Using the abbreviations, show the base-pairing .
Describe the bonds that hold the bases pairs together in the double helix.
Describe the bonds that hold together the sugar & phosphate backbones.
1

Instructions for labeling & coloring:
Label the general parts of a nucleotide as previously instructed & label the arrow . Label the 4 different nitrogenous bases based on the information in your notes. Color the pentagonal deoxyribose sugars gray or with pencil . Be sure to include the single attached circle representing carbon 5. Color the backbone
“strips” light blue & dark blue . Color the central circle in the phosphate groups yellow & the 4 surrounding circles red . For the first 2 base pairs ONLY: color adenine dark green & thymine light green ; color guanine brown & cytosine orange .
2

The process of copying DNA in a cell is called ______________________________.
The name of the region where the DNA strands separate is called a _______________________________.
State the functions of the following enzymes:
Helicases
DNA polymerases
Distinguish the functions of the “ template ” strand & “ complimentary ” strand of the DNA molecule.
(Not in text)
Show the correct base pairing for the template strand below:
______________________________________________________________________________________
A – A – A – T – G – C – G – A – G – C – C – C – G – T – T – A – T – T – T
______________________________________________________________________________________
Show the correct base pairing for the complimentary strand below:
______________________________________________________________________________________
T – T – T – A – C – G – C – T – C – G – G – G – C – A – A – T – A – A – A
______________________________________________________________________________________
Explain what a mutation is.
3

2)
3)
S ECTION 10-2: RNA
Four features of RNA structure :
1)
4)
Three types of RNA and the shapes & functions of each : Note the abbreviations for each type .
1)
3)
2)
2)
3)
Three features of RNA nucleotide structure :
1)
Four nitrogenous bases found in RNA & their abbreviations :
Purines : Pyrimidines :
1) 3)
2) 4)
Basic structure _________________________ Basic structure _________________________
The process by which genetic information is copied from DNA to RNA is called _____________________
The function of RNA polymerase :
4

Three steps of transcription : (Not in text)
1) Initiation –
What is the significance of promoter segments of a gene? –
2) Elongation –
3) Termination –
2)
3)
What is the significance of terminator segments of a gene? –
The products of transcription:
1)
Instructions for labeling & coloring:
Label DNA & RNA molecules. Label the RNA polymerase molecule. Color the DNA molecule backbone light blue . Color the mRNA molecule backbone red or pink . Color the RNA polymerase light green .
Which step in the transcription sequence is shown here? __________________________
5

S ECTION 10-3: P ROTEIN S YNTHESIS
The monomers of proteins are called ____________________________. There are ______ different kinds of a.a.
A correlation between a nucleotide sequence (DNA/RNA) & an amino acid sequence (polypeptide) is referred to as this code .
The genetic information necessary for making polypeptides/proteins is encoded in a series of three mRNA nucleotides . Each combination of three mRNA nucleotides is called a ____________
Sixty 3-nucleotide sequences code for 20 a.a. (This is a so-called redundant code .) See table on next page.
What does it mean to be “redundant”?
Which 3-nucleotide sequence codes for “ Start ”? What is the name of this a.a.? How does this relate to the promoter signals on DNA?
List the 3 nucleotide sequences that act as “ Stop ” signals. How are these related to the terminator signals on DNA?
Instructions: Use your text to write in the names of the a.a. for each mRNA sequence here & in the
table. See next page.
_________________ _________________ _________________
________________
_________________ _________________
_________________
_________________ ________________ _________________
_________________
_________________ _________________
_________________ ________________
_________________ _________________
_________________
_________________ _________________ _________________
_________________
6

What is the function of tRNA ?
What is the name of the 3-nucleotide sequence carried by tRNA that compliments a codon on mRNA?
What attaches to the other end of the tRNA molecule?
Make a sketch of a tRNA molecule & include the labels of the sites mentioned above.
What 2 kinds of ribosomes are found in eukaryotic cells?
What are their roles? tRNA
7

The process of assembling polypeptides from amino acids according to nucleotide sequences encoded in mRNA is called
____________________________
Three steps of translation : (Not in text)
1) Initiation –
What a.a. binds first to the start code via its tRNA? ____________________
2) Elongation –
3) Termination –
What term is used to describe the simultaneous translation of a single mRNA transcript by several ribosomes. (Not in text)
The amino acid sequence represents this level of protein structure.
8