Download Central Dogma Study Guide Your goal is to have an overall

Central Dogma Study Guide
Your goal is to have an overall understanding of the impact mutations in the code can have on the resulting
proteins that are/are not being produced.
Key Points










The genetic code is universal because it is the same among all organisms.
Replication is the process of copying a molecule of DNA and can result in mistakes.
Transcription is the process of converting a specific sequence of DNA into RNA and can result in
mistakes.
The genetic code is degenerate because 64 codons encode only 20 amino acids.
Translation is the process where a ribosome decodes mRNA into a protein.
Proteins have several functions within an organism and often their function is reliant on their
shape/conformation.
Each of the 20 amino acids have a specific chemical behavior, dictated by the R-group (side chain).
Protein folding is a process in which a linear chain of amino acids attains a defined three-dimensional
structure, but there is a possibility of forming misfolded proteins, which are often inactive.
Protein misfolding is the cause of numerous diseases, either through faulty shape or accumulation.
Mutations can occur in a variety of settings and can be due to a variety of reasons but have similar
outcomes in the production of proteins.
Specifics to KNOW

General process of transcription in matching complimentary base pairs between DNA and RNA.

Not all of the code is translated into a protein so understand the concept of exons, introns, and splicing.

Structure of a ribosome and events at the ribosome for translation.

Describe the structure and role of tRNA in the production of a polypeptide at the ribosome.

What is the general structure of amino acids? How are they alike? How are they different? How are they
joined together to form polypeptides? Identify Amino Acids, the classification, and folding properties.

The 4 degrees of structure/folding for a polypeptide? How are these held in position?

What are chaperones, ubiquitin, and proteasomes; what role do they play in proper protein synthesis?

What determines the folded properties of the final protein product? Be able to describe in detail how each
side chain impacts the folding “rules” when forming a functional protein.

IF misfolded proteins are produced, how would be categorize the mutations that brought them about?
o Spontaneous vs induced?
o
Somatic vs germline?
o
Point vs Frameshifts?
o
Silent vs Missense vs Nonsense?
o
Autosomal vs X-linked?
o
Functional changes?
o
Morphological changes?