Molecular Biology
Chapter 10: DNA – Replication and Protein Synthesis
Review Sheet
10.3 DNA as a Double-Helix
1. Describe the structure of DNA. What holds the two strands together?
10.4 and 10.5 DNA Replication
1. Describe in brief how DNA is replicated. How does complementary base pairing
make possible the replication of DNA?
2. Explain in detail how DNA is replicated, starting from the origin of replication.
Be sure to mention the concept of 3’ and 5’ ends, the overall direction of
replication and the enzymes involved, including helicase, single-strand binding
protein, DNA polymerase, DNA ligase.
10.6 DNA to Proteins
1. DNA/RNA to genes to proteins. How are they related to each other? What is the
importance of each part? Give two examples of proteins and why they are important.
2. Distinguish between the roles of transcription and translation.
3. What is the one gene – one polypeptide hypothesis?
10.7 Genetic information written in codons; 10.8 Genetic code
1. What is a codon? Where is it found? How is it related to amino acids?
10.9 Transcription
1. Explain the process of RNA synthesis. Be sure to include terms such as RNA
polymerase, promoter, initiation, elongation, termination.
10.10 RNA Processing
1. How is mRNA processed before leaving the nucleus? Explain the three steps of
processing and what happens in each step.
2. What is splicing and how does it occur? What types of molecules catalyze this
process?
3. What are the roles of exons and introns in mRNA productions? What happens if
introns are left in the RNA?
10.12, 10.132, 10.14, 10.15 Translation
1. Outline the 3 steps of translation: initiation, elongation, and termination. Explain
what happens in each stage. Be sure to include the role of rRNA, tRNA, start and
stop codons.
2. Why is accurate initiation of protein synthesis important?
10.16 Mutations
1. What are the three types mutations that can occur?
2. What are two possible causes for mutations?