Concept Review Questions and Answers-Chapter 8

8.1 DNA and the Importance of Proteins

1. What is a gene?

2. What four functions are performed by nucleic acids?

3. What is the product of transcription? Translation?

8.2 DNA Structure and Function

4. What is the base pairing rule?

5. Why is DNA replication necessary?

6. What factors stabilize the DNA double helix?

8.3 RNA Structure and Function

7. What role does RNA play in the cell?

8. What are the three differences between DNA and RNA?

8.4 Protein Synthesis

9. How does the manufacture of an RNA molecule differ from DNA replication?

a.
10. If a DNA nucleotide sequence is TACAAAGCA, what is the mRNA nucleotide sequence that would base-pair with it?

11. What amino acids would occur in the protein chemically coded by the sequence of nucleotides in question 9?

12. How do tRNA, rRNA, and mRNA differ in function?

13. What are the differences among a promoter sequence, termination sequence, and release factor?

14. List the sequence of events that takes place when a DNA message is translated into protein.

8.5 Control of Protein Synthesis

15. Provide two examples of how a cell uses transcription to control gene expression.

a. Cells determine the quality of the protein produced by alternative splicing.

16. Provide an example of why it is advantageous for a cell to control gene expression.

8.6 Mutations and Protein Synthesis

17. Both chromosomal and point mutations occur in DNA. In what ways do they differ?

18. What is a silent mutation? Provide an example.