Exam (elaborations) Biochemistry WGU

RNA polymerase - ANSWER Enzyme that facilitates transcription Transcription - ANSWER synthesis of an RNA molecule from a DNA template Ribosome - ANSWER Large macromolecular complex where proteins are synthesized tRNA (transfer RNA) - ANSWER Form of RNA that is complementary to mRNA. Has a neucleotide anticodon on one end and an amino acid in the other. Translation - ANSWER decoding of a mRNA message into a polypeptide chain Coding strand (DNA) - ANSWER The original strand off which the new nucleotide sequence is based. Almost the same as mRNA template strand (DNA) - ANSWER The strand mRNA uses to make a copy. Complementary to mRNA missense mutation - ANSWER base substitution results in change in an amino acid nonsense mutation - ANSWER changes a normal codon into a stop codon silent mutation - ANSWER change in DNA that codes for the same amino acid Replication - ANSWER process of copying DNA prior to cell division DNA polymerase III - ANSWER synthesizes new DNA only in the 5' to 3' direction Needs a primer to start polymerase chain reaction (PCR) - ANSWER Copying DNA in lab. Used to study/diagnose PCR needs - ANSWER Target DNA dNTPs (deoxyneucleotides) DNA primers Taq polymerase (stable at high temps) Helicase - ANSWER An enzyme that untwists the double helix of DNA at the replication forks.