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What Is the Genetic Code?
1. Explain, in general terms, how the experiment of Beadle and Tatum led to the one
gene--one enzyme hypothesis.
2. Draw a diagram that illustrates the flow of information within a eukaryotic cell from a
gene to a polypeptide chain and then:
Indicate the places where transcription and translation occur and define these
two terms.
Indicate the point at which mRNA leaves the nucleus and enters the cytoplasm.
3. Regarding codons:
Indicate their function.
Explain why a codon consists of 3 nucleotides rather than 1 or 2 nucleotides.
Be able to use the codon table to construct the genetic code for a polypeptide
chain (assuming you are given the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide).
Explain what is meant by the phrase "universality of the genetic code" and why
this is important.
4. Regarding transcription:
Indicate the roles of the promoter and RNA polymerase.
Distinguish between the template and non-template strands of DNA and indicate
how the nucleotide sequence of an RNA transcript is related to each strand.
5. Draw a ribosome in the process of translation; label the 2 ribosomal subunits, mRNA,
tRNAs, and the growing polypeptide chain, and then:
Describe the specific function(s) of the ribosome, mRNA, and tRNAs.
Explain, in general terms, what occurs during the initiation, elongation, and
termination stages.
Explain the significance of the anticodon region of a tRNA molecule.
Explain the significance of the start and stop codons of an mRNA transcript.
6. Describe why ricin is feared as a potential weapon for terrorists, and explain what it
does at the cellular level (reading assignment).