GeneticsLesson 1 of 5 in the course Mechanisms of Microbial Genetics

Genetic Information: DNA Functions, Gene Expression, and Phenotype

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

DNA is more than a molecule that stores inherited information: it also provides instructions that cells use to make proteins. This lesson introduces the two essential functions of DNA and follows genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein.

DNA has two essential roles in cellular information.

Definition: A genome is the full complement of DNA in a cell or organism.

All flashcards

What are DNA’s two essential functions?
DNA stores heritable information and provides instructions that direct and regulate protein production.
How are genes, chromosomes, and plasmids related?
Genes are units of DNA information arranged on chromosomes; in many organisms, genes may also be found on plasmids.
What is gene expression?
Gene expression is the use of information in a gene to produce its functional product.
Why can cells with the same genotype have different phenotypes?
They may express different genes or experience different environmental conditions, changing the proteins produced and observable traits.
Does a genetic predisposition guarantee that a disease will develop?
No. Environmental influences also matter, so a genetic predisposition is not a certain prediction of disease.

Quiz questions

  1. What does the term genome mean?Answer: The full complement of DNA in a cell or organism.
  2. Which sequence represents the usual direction of information flow for protein production?Answer: DNA is transcribed into RNA, and RNA is translated into protein.
  3. What is the role of messenger RNA in protein production?Answer: It carries instructions from DNA to a ribosome, where they guide protein synthesis.
  4. Which three broad stages are shared by replication, transcription, and translation?Answer: Initiation, elongation, and termination.
  5. In the United States, which practices does GINA prohibit based on genetic information?Answer: Certain discriminatory practices by health insurers and employers.

Based on Microbiology by Nina Parker, Mark Schneegurt, Anh-Hue Thi Tu, Philip Lister, Brian M. Forster (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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