Molecular Genetics Chapter 12 Study Guide
1. Summarize the experimental discoveries of the following scientists, explaining the main points of their experiments and what their research contributed to our knowledge of molecular genetics.
A. Griffith
B. Avery
C. Hershey and Chase
2. Explain what the following scientists contributed to our knowledge of DNA structure.
A. Chargaff
B. Rosalind Franklin
C. Maurice Wilkins
D. James Watson and Francis Crick
3. List the 5 nucleotides of DNA and RNA, categorizing them by purines or
pyrimidines, and telling where each is found.
4. Draw, label, and color the structure of DNA as seen in Fig 12.8 on page 331. Label the sugar-phosphate backbone and nucleotide base pairs after reading about the structure on page 330.
5. How does so much DNA fit into a microscopic cell? In your answer, describe and/or draw the structure of a chromosome.
6. What is DNA replication? Draw and label a diagram of DNA replication as shown on page 334.
7. Explain the roles of the following in DNA replication:
A. DNA helicase B. DNA polymerase C. DNA ligase
8. Compare and contrast prokaryotic and eukaryotic DNA and the DNA replication process.
9. Make a simple (one line) flow diagram of the Central Dogma of biology which your text describes on p. 336 to explain the flow of genetic information in a eukaryotic cell.
10. How does RNA differ from DNA?
11. Write the full name and describe the function of the 3 types of RNA:
A. mRNA B. rRNA C. tRNA
12. What is the purpose of transcription?
13. a. What are codons, and for what do they code?
b. Distinguish between a codon and an anticodon.
14. What is the purpose of translation?
15. What was Beadle and Tatum’s hypothesis, and what has this been modified to mean today?
16. a. What is a mutation?
b. What are the types of mutations, and what result does each type
generally produce?