How to remember the difference between replication, transcription, and translation

Replication, transcription, and translation are all terms used to describe DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis. It can be confusing trying to memorize these definitions because the words are similar, so here's a memory trick!

Genetics Exam Review Problem on Mitosis and Meiosis

A woman is know to be carrying a severe recessive autosomal gene. It is possible to determine whether a cell or poloar body is carrying the normal or dissorder recessive. The detection procedure destroys the ovum. She has opted for in vitro fertilization so the the egg and sperm can be united in a test tube. To avoid having to select a normal embryo and destroy others, she wants to be certain the egg is not carrying the mutation. It is possible to have the oocyte continue meiosis in a test tube. What would you want to see in the poloar body at the first meiotic division? What would you want to see in the second meitoic division? You must be able to diagram oogenesis and segregati... click for more

Understanding nucleic acids, DNA, RNA, transcription

Given the DNA sequence shown below, what is the complementary sequence in (a) DNA and (b) mRNA? 5'AAGGTCAGCTAGGGACTTTTCCCAGGTC-3'

Biology Questions

It is a good idea to check the assertion that 1.27 X 10 to the 30th power double-stranded DNA molecules of 100 base pairs each would weigh almost 140,000 tons. Hint: Start by using Avogadro’s number (listed below) to determine how many moles of DNA are represented by this large number of base pairs. Assume an average mass of 300 g per mole of nucleotide. Avogadro’s number = The number of atoms in exactly 12 g of C-12. 12.21 In 2000, the Human Genome Project completed the sequence for all the base pairs at least to the level of a “rough draft.” What are likely to be some of the problems with the early version? Are there any ways to know if there were mistakes? In 2001, scientist... click for more

Understanding inheritance, pedigree; autosomal recessive disorders

Two people, each homozygous ro autosomal recessive deafness-producing alleles have four children. Three are deaf. One can hear. Possible explanations for the appearance of the hearing child include all of the following EXCEPT a - complementation of two different loci (AA bb x aa BB --> Aa Bb [hearing]) b - back mutation (dd --> Dd) c - heterozygosity at loci for which spouse is homozygous (Aa bb x aa Bb --> Aa Bb) d - infidelity / mistaken parentage e - late or variable age of onset (hearing child will lose hearing later in childhood)