DNA Study Guide

1. What is DNA?

1.What is DNA? DNA is the blueprint of life. Chromosomes are made of DNA.

2. What does DNA stand for?

2. What does DNA stand for? DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid.

3. What does DNA do?

3. What does DNA do? DNA passes down all of a person’s genetic information.

4. Where is DNA located? (Be specific)

4. Where is DNA located? Be specific. DNA is located in the chromosomes in the cell’s nucleus.

5. How have we described what DNA looks like?

5. How have we described what DNA looks like? Twisted ladder, double helix, spiral staircase

6. What are the sides “handrails” of the ladder made up of?

6. What are the sides “handrails” of the ladder made up of? Alternating deoxyribose (sugar) molecules and phosphate molecules

7. What are the “stairs” or rungs of the ladder composed of?

7. What are the “stairs” or rungs of the ladder composed of? Nitrogen bases

8. What are the 4 nitrogen bases? (include the words and the letters)

8. What are the 4 nitrogen bases? (include the words and the letters) adenine (A) thymine (T) guanine (G) cytosine (C)

9. Why must certain bases pair up exclusively with other bases?

9. Why must certain bases pair up exclusively with other bases? Each has a slightly different shape. Each side of the molecule is complementary to the other side.

10. What are the pairs? (You may use the letters if you choose)

10. What are the pairs? (You may use the letters if you choose) T and A C and G

11. If there is 40 % cytosine, how much guanine is present? How do you know?

11. If there is 40 % cytosine, how much guanine is present? How do you know? 40% because they must be equal

12. Whose rule states that the bases must be equal amounts?

12. Whose rule states that the bases must be equal amounts? Chargaff

13. Who are the four scientists that discovered the shape of DNA?

13. Who are the four scientists that discovered the shape of DNA? Franklin, Wilkins, Watson, Crick

14. What is the process by which DNA makes a copy of itself?

14. What is the process by which DNA makes a copy of itself? DNA replication

15. What do you call the set of rules by which information in genetic material is translated into proteins by living cells?

15. What do you call the set of rules by which information in genetic material is translated into proteins by living cells? genetic code

16. The code defines a mapping between how many amino acids? What is this sequence called?

16. The code defines a mapping between how many amino acids? three What is this sequence called? a codon

17. What is DNA fingerprinting?

17. What is DNA fingerprinting? The process where DNA is cut into segments at specific places and then used to compare and identify the DNA of different individuals

18. The chance of any two individuals have one site in common is 1 in 50. By comparing 4 different places along a chromosome, you increase the chances of two individuals having identical sites to 1 in how many?

18. The chance of any two individuals have one site in common is 1 in 50. By comparing 4 different places along a chromosome, you increase the chances of two individuals having identical sites to 1 in how many? 10 billion

19. DNA fingerprinting can be created from body fluids and _______.

19. DNA fingerprinting can be created from body fluids and _______. Hair roots

20. When is it not impossible for 2 people to have the same DNA fingerprint?

20. When is it not impossible for 2 people to have the same DNA fingerprint? If they are identical twin, triplets, or quadruplets (come from the same egg and sperm)

21. In a DNA fingerprint, how are DNA fragments separated from each other?

21. In a DNA fingerprint, how are DNA fragments separated from each other? They are separated by their size

22. What is a DNA mutation? What causes it to occur?

22. What is a DNA mutation? What causes it to occur? A mutation is a change in the order of the bases. They can be caused by copying errors, exposure to ultraviolet light, radiation, chemical mutagens, or viruses.

23. What is a Codon?

 A codon is a sequence of 3 nitrogen bases.

24. The instructions for making proteins is found where?

 The instruction for making proteins is found on a gene.

25. Ribosomes read the code on what?

 Ribosomes read the code on mRNA.

26. What is a nucleotide?

 A nucleotide is a subunit of DNA.

27. How much DNA is in a human cell?

 A human cell contains 2 meters (m) of DNA.

28. What is a gene?

 A gene is a string of nucleotides that have the instructions for a certain trait.

29. How many nitrogen bases make an amino acid?

 A group of 3 nitrogen bases code for an amino acid.

30. Where is uracil found?

 Uracil is found in RNA.