DNA Structure and Function. 1. Summarize the contribution to the understanding of DNA by each of the following scientists: Linus Pauling, Watson and Crick, Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin.

2. List the three components of a nucleotide.

3. List the nitrogen bases found in DNA.

4. Label and describe the parts of the nucleotide:

5. What links the nucleotides together to form the strand of DNA? Describe the type of bond and the enzyme responsible for linking the nucleotides.

6. Explain the term complimentary base pairing.

7. Explain the significance of the base-pairing pattern.

8. Explain why the two strands of DNA are said to be antiparallel.

9. Explain the process of DNA replication.

10. Explain why DNA replication is said to be semiconservative.

11. Predict the alternative base pairing for a given nucleotide sequence like ATTGCCTGAACCTCG.

12. Describe the action of DNA polymerase and DNA ligase in DNA proofreading and repair.

13. Label this diagram of DNA replication:

14. How does DNA differ from RNA?

15. In your own words, explain how information is transferred from a gene to a protein.

16. What is the difference between transcription and translation?

17. Explain the role of RNA polymerase in transcription.

18. Describe the structure of tRNA and explain how that structure is related to its function.

19. Explain the structure of a ribosome and explain how its structure is related to its function.

20. Describe how mRNA is processed before it leaves the nucleus.

21. Transcribe the following DNA strand into mRNA and translate that strand into a polypeptide chain, identifying the codons and amino acid sequence.

a. DNA: A T A C G A AA T C G C G A T C G C G G C G A T T C G G

mRNA:

Codons:

Amino Acids:

b. DNA: T TT A C G G C C A T C A G G C A A T A C T G G

mRNA:

Codons:

Amino Acids:

c. DNA: T A C G GG C CT A T A C G C T A C T A C T CA T G G A T C G G

mRNA:

Codons:

Amino Acids:

d. DNA: G T A C G C G T A T A C C G A C A T T C

mRNA:

Codons:

Amino Acids:

22. Define the term mutagen.

23. Describe the concept of junk DNA and its importance in the human genome.

24. Explain why all genes are not expressed in all cells.

25. Describe how a cancer cell is different from a regular cell. Cancer cells mutate and reproduce more quickly than regular cells.

26. Explain the connection between genes and cancer.