Bio 325
BIO 325 Final Exam Study Questions with
Detailed Solutions Graded A 2025
transcription factor
any group of proteins that can regulate gene activity by increasing or
decreasing the binding of RNA polymerase to the DNA molecule during
transcription. Achieved by the ability to bind to DNA molecules
RNA Transcription Sequence (7 steps)
1. RNA polymerase together with 1+ transcription factors binds to
promoter DNA
2. RNA polymerase breaks H-bonds between complementary DNA
nucleotides and creates transcription bubble which separates the two
strands of the DNA helix
3. RNA polymerase adds RNA nucleotides complementary to DNA
strand
4. RNA sugar-phosphate backbone forms with assistance from RNA
polymerase to form RNA strand
5. H-bonds of RNA-DNA helix break to free newly synthezied RNA
strand
6. If cell has a nucleus, RNA may be further processed (polyadenyaltion,
capping, splicing)
7. RNA may remain in nucleus or exit to cytoplasm through nuclear pore
complex
Protein structures
primary - sequence of amino acids in polypeptide chain
secondary - highly regular local sub-structures on polypeptide backbone
chain
Bio 325
,Bio 325
tertiary - 3D structure of monomeric and multimeric protein molecule.
Folded into a compact globular structure
quarternary - 3-D structure consisting of aggregation of two or more
individual polypeptide chains that operate as a functional unit
translation
ribosomes in cell's cytoplasm create proteins, following transcription of
DNA to RNA in nucleus. mRNA is decoded by ribosome outside
nulceus to produce amino acid chain or polypeptide
transfer RNA
type of RNA that helps decode mRNA sequence into a protein. tRNAs
function at specific sites in ribosome during translation, which is a
process that synthesizes a protein from an mRNA molecule (link codons
and amino acids)
tRNA synthetase
enzyme that attached the appropriate amino acid onto its tRNA
operon
unit of linked genes that is thought to regulate other genes responsible
for protein syntehsis
mono vs poly cistronic
mRNA that can encode one or more than one polypeptide per RNA
molecule (Most RNA is mono)
intron
segment of DNA or RNA that doesn't code for proteins/peptide
sequences and interrupts genes
mRNA splicing
Bio 325
,Bio 325
editing of pre-mRNA transcript into mature mRNA - introns removed
and exons joined together
primary RNA
single-stranded RNA synthesized by transcription of DNA and processed
to yield various mature RNA products
processed mRNA
eukaryotic RNA transcript that has been spliced and processed and is
ready for translation in the course of protein synthesis
operator
segment of DNA to which transcription factor binds to regulate gene
expressing by repressing it
promoter
region of DNA that initiates transcription of a particular gene - located
near transcription start sites of genes on same strand and upstream on
DNA
enhancer
short region of DNA that can be bound by activator protein to increase
likelihood transcription of a particular gene will occur
centromere
region of a chromosome to which the microtubules of the spindle attach,
via the kinetochore during cell division
telomere
compound structure at end of chromosome
chromatid
Bio 325
, Bio 325
each of two threadlike strands into which a chromosome divides
longitudinally during cell division
histones
any group of basic proteins found in a chromatin
nucleosomes
structural unit of eukaryotic chromosome, consisting of a length of DNA
coiled around a core of histones
5' end
carbon number in DNA sugar backbone with phosphate group attached
to it
3' end
carbon number in DNA sugar backbone with a hydroxl group attached to
it
sugar phosphate backbone
consists of 5-carbon deoxyribose sugars and phosphate groups. Sugars
linked together by phosphodiester bond between carbon 4 on chain and
CH2 group that is attached to a phosphate
Gene products
RNA (makes tRNA, rRNA, snRNA, regulatory RNAs, RNA enzymes)
mRNA (makes proteins)
Semiconservative DNA replication sequence
1. Original double helix
2. strands separate
3. Compelmentary bases align opposite templates
Bio 325
BIO 325 Final Exam Study Questions with
Detailed Solutions Graded A 2025
transcription factor
any group of proteins that can regulate gene activity by increasing or
decreasing the binding of RNA polymerase to the DNA molecule during
transcription. Achieved by the ability to bind to DNA molecules
RNA Transcription Sequence (7 steps)
1. RNA polymerase together with 1+ transcription factors binds to
promoter DNA
2. RNA polymerase breaks H-bonds between complementary DNA
nucleotides and creates transcription bubble which separates the two
strands of the DNA helix
3. RNA polymerase adds RNA nucleotides complementary to DNA
strand
4. RNA sugar-phosphate backbone forms with assistance from RNA
polymerase to form RNA strand
5. H-bonds of RNA-DNA helix break to free newly synthezied RNA
strand
6. If cell has a nucleus, RNA may be further processed (polyadenyaltion,
capping, splicing)
7. RNA may remain in nucleus or exit to cytoplasm through nuclear pore
complex
Protein structures
primary - sequence of amino acids in polypeptide chain
secondary - highly regular local sub-structures on polypeptide backbone
chain
Bio 325
,Bio 325
tertiary - 3D structure of monomeric and multimeric protein molecule.
Folded into a compact globular structure
quarternary - 3-D structure consisting of aggregation of two or more
individual polypeptide chains that operate as a functional unit
translation
ribosomes in cell's cytoplasm create proteins, following transcription of
DNA to RNA in nucleus. mRNA is decoded by ribosome outside
nulceus to produce amino acid chain or polypeptide
transfer RNA
type of RNA that helps decode mRNA sequence into a protein. tRNAs
function at specific sites in ribosome during translation, which is a
process that synthesizes a protein from an mRNA molecule (link codons
and amino acids)
tRNA synthetase
enzyme that attached the appropriate amino acid onto its tRNA
operon
unit of linked genes that is thought to regulate other genes responsible
for protein syntehsis
mono vs poly cistronic
mRNA that can encode one or more than one polypeptide per RNA
molecule (Most RNA is mono)
intron
segment of DNA or RNA that doesn't code for proteins/peptide
sequences and interrupts genes
mRNA splicing
Bio 325
,Bio 325
editing of pre-mRNA transcript into mature mRNA - introns removed
and exons joined together
primary RNA
single-stranded RNA synthesized by transcription of DNA and processed
to yield various mature RNA products
processed mRNA
eukaryotic RNA transcript that has been spliced and processed and is
ready for translation in the course of protein synthesis
operator
segment of DNA to which transcription factor binds to regulate gene
expressing by repressing it
promoter
region of DNA that initiates transcription of a particular gene - located
near transcription start sites of genes on same strand and upstream on
DNA
enhancer
short region of DNA that can be bound by activator protein to increase
likelihood transcription of a particular gene will occur
centromere
region of a chromosome to which the microtubules of the spindle attach,
via the kinetochore during cell division
telomere
compound structure at end of chromosome
chromatid
Bio 325
, Bio 325
each of two threadlike strands into which a chromosome divides
longitudinally during cell division
histones
any group of basic proteins found in a chromatin
nucleosomes
structural unit of eukaryotic chromosome, consisting of a length of DNA
coiled around a core of histones
5' end
carbon number in DNA sugar backbone with phosphate group attached
to it
3' end
carbon number in DNA sugar backbone with a hydroxl group attached to
it
sugar phosphate backbone
consists of 5-carbon deoxyribose sugars and phosphate groups. Sugars
linked together by phosphodiester bond between carbon 4 on chain and
CH2 group that is attached to a phosphate
Gene products
RNA (makes tRNA, rRNA, snRNA, regulatory RNAs, RNA enzymes)
mRNA (makes proteins)
Semiconservative DNA replication sequence
1. Original double helix
2. strands separate
3. Compelmentary bases align opposite templates
Bio 325
