Biology Abitur Lernzettel / Biology exam preparation -
Topics for Q3 - Molecular biology, genetics, cell cycle,
mutations, DNA replication and protein synthesis
Table of Contents
Central Dogma of Molecular Biology
Definition of the central dogma
Cell Cycle and Cell Division
Purpose of cell division
Interphase (G1, S, G2 phases)
Mitosis stages
Cytokinesis
Gene Regulation
Definition of gene regulation
Operon model (promoter, operator, genes)
Inducible and repressible operons
Regulatory molecules (repressors, activators, inducers)
Control of Gene Expression
Environmental influences
Developmental regulation
Feedback mechanisms
Genetic Engineering
Definition and purpose
Isolation of genes and vectors
Restriction enzymes and ligation
Transformation and selection
Applications of Genetic Engineering
Medicine and insulin production
Agriculture and crop modification
Industrial applications
Mutations
Definition of mutations
Causes of mutations (mutagens)
Beneficial, neutral, and harmful mutations
1
,DNA Replication
Structure and enzymes involved
Leading and lagging strand
Initiation, elongation, termination
Protein Synthesis
Transcription process
mRNA, tRNA and ribosomes
Translation process
Formation of polypeptides and proteins
2
, 1. Overview of the Central Dogma
Definition of the Central Dogma:
The ‘Central Dogma’ is the process by which the instructions in DNA are converted into a functional
product. It was first proposed in 1958 by Francis Crick, discoverer of the structure of DNA. The central
dogma of molecular biology explains the flow of genetic information, from DNA to RNA, to make a
functional product, a protein.
Description of the Central Dogma:
-The central dogma suggests that DNA contains the information needed to make all of our proteins
-The RNA is a messenger that carries this information to the ribosomes
-The ribosomes serve as factories in the cell where the information is ‘translated’ from a code into
the functional product
Process:
-The process by which the DNA instructions are converted into the functional product is called gene
expression
-Gene expression has two key stages - transcription and translation
-During transcription, specific sections of DNA, called genes, are converted into small, portable RNA
message
-During translation, these messages travel from where the DNA is located in the nucleus to the
ribosomes in the cytoplasm, where they are “read” to make proteins
The central dogma states that the pattern of information that occurs most frequently in our cells is:
-From existing DNA to make new DNA (DNA replication)
-From DNA to make new RNA (transcription)
-From RNA to make new proteins (translation)
Reverse transcription is the transfer of information from RNA to make new DNA, this occurs in the
case of retroviruses, such as HIV. It is the process by which the genetic information from RNA is
assembled into new DNA.
3
Topics for Q3 - Molecular biology, genetics, cell cycle,
mutations, DNA replication and protein synthesis
Table of Contents
Central Dogma of Molecular Biology
Definition of the central dogma
Cell Cycle and Cell Division
Purpose of cell division
Interphase (G1, S, G2 phases)
Mitosis stages
Cytokinesis
Gene Regulation
Definition of gene regulation
Operon model (promoter, operator, genes)
Inducible and repressible operons
Regulatory molecules (repressors, activators, inducers)
Control of Gene Expression
Environmental influences
Developmental regulation
Feedback mechanisms
Genetic Engineering
Definition and purpose
Isolation of genes and vectors
Restriction enzymes and ligation
Transformation and selection
Applications of Genetic Engineering
Medicine and insulin production
Agriculture and crop modification
Industrial applications
Mutations
Definition of mutations
Causes of mutations (mutagens)
Beneficial, neutral, and harmful mutations
1
,DNA Replication
Structure and enzymes involved
Leading and lagging strand
Initiation, elongation, termination
Protein Synthesis
Transcription process
mRNA, tRNA and ribosomes
Translation process
Formation of polypeptides and proteins
2
, 1. Overview of the Central Dogma
Definition of the Central Dogma:
The ‘Central Dogma’ is the process by which the instructions in DNA are converted into a functional
product. It was first proposed in 1958 by Francis Crick, discoverer of the structure of DNA. The central
dogma of molecular biology explains the flow of genetic information, from DNA to RNA, to make a
functional product, a protein.
Description of the Central Dogma:
-The central dogma suggests that DNA contains the information needed to make all of our proteins
-The RNA is a messenger that carries this information to the ribosomes
-The ribosomes serve as factories in the cell where the information is ‘translated’ from a code into
the functional product
Process:
-The process by which the DNA instructions are converted into the functional product is called gene
expression
-Gene expression has two key stages - transcription and translation
-During transcription, specific sections of DNA, called genes, are converted into small, portable RNA
message
-During translation, these messages travel from where the DNA is located in the nucleus to the
ribosomes in the cytoplasm, where they are “read” to make proteins
The central dogma states that the pattern of information that occurs most frequently in our cells is:
-From existing DNA to make new DNA (DNA replication)
-From DNA to make new RNA (transcription)
-From RNA to make new proteins (translation)
Reverse transcription is the transfer of information from RNA to make new DNA, this occurs in the
case of retroviruses, such as HIV. It is the process by which the genetic information from RNA is
assembled into new DNA.
3
