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Date_____________Per_______
RNA & Gene Expression (Protein Synthesis) Ch. 8 Study Guide
PreAP Biology
Due: ______________
1. Ch. 8 RNA/Protein Synthesis Questions WS—use Ch. 8 in textbook
2. Mutations & Genetic Disorders WS
3. mRNA codons WS & Science Skills: Interpreting Tables
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RNA/PROTEIN SYNTHESIS QUESTIONS WS
CHAPTER 8
1. What does RNA stand for?
2. What is the sugar found in RNA?
3. Is RNA double or single stranded?
4. In RNA, what nucleotide base always pairs with adenine?
5. What nucleotide base always pairs with Cytosine?
6. What is RNA used for in the cell?
7. What occurs during the process called gene expression or protein synthesis?
8. What does the enzyme RNA polymerase do?
9. Where in the cell is DNA found?
10. What is Transcription and where does it take place?
11. What is mRNA?
12. What is translation and where does it take place?
13. Which type of RNA reads the “code” from a strand of DNA?
14. What is the main function of tRNA?
15. What is the purpose of rRNA?
16. What are the building blocks of proteins?
17. What makes up an amino acid?
18. What is a codon?
19. What is an anticodon?
20. Fill in the missing parts according to the figure on the bottom of page 4 of your RNA notes.
DNA 

 Translation 
21. Look at the mRNA codon chart in your notes or on page 234. What is the 3 base
sequence that is the START codon?
22. What are the three STOP codons?
23. What are the long segments of DNA nucleotides that have no coding information (p. 241)?
24. Which portion of a gene is translated into proteins?
25. What is a mutation (p. 244)?
26. Describe a point mutation, an insertion, and a deletion.
27. What is a mutagen?
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Mutations and Genetic Disorders
A mutation is a change in the genome. It can occur in many different ways at many different
levels. We are going to make a distinction between changes in the genetic code (the DNA sequence of
nucleotides) which are called point mutations, and changes in the chromosomes.
Point Mutations
A point mutation is a change in the genetic code that affects only one nucleotide (base) in the
DNA sequence. A point mutation often, but not always, leads to a change in the amino acid sequence.
Think back to the codon chart. Remember how there is more than one codon for many of the amino
acids. If a point mutation occurs that doesn’t change the amino acid coded for, it is what is called a
silent mutation. Other changes do change the amino acid sequence with varying degrees of affect.
Some changes in the genetic code are called nonsense mutations, others are called sense
mutations. A nonsense mutation is one that results in a stop codon in the middle of the amino acid
(protein) and therefore it is completely nonfunctional. Sense mutations result in a complete protein,
but with at least one amino acid different.
There are 3 basic things that can occur in the nucleotide sequence to result in a sense or
nonsense mutation: substitutions, insertions, or deletions. A substitution occurs when one base
replaces another base. An insertion is the addition of a base somewhere in the nucleotide sequence. A
deletion is the loss of a nucleotide in the DNA sequence.
Directions:
Complete the following problems by transcribing the mRNA sequence from the DNA
sequence shown, then translating the mRNA sequence into an amino acid sequence using an mRNA
codon chart. For type of mutation: In the first blank, identify the type of mutation shown as a
substitution, insertion or deletion. In the second mutation type blank, identify whether it is a
silent, sense or nonsense mutation.
original DNA:
TAC AAA ATA GCA ACT
mRNA: _________________________________________________________
amino acid: _____________________________________________________
1. mutated DNA:
TAC AAA ATT AGC AAC T
mRNA: __________________________________________________________
amino acid: ______________________________________________________
type of mutation: _______________________ and _______________________
2. mutated DNA:
TAC TAA ATA GCA ACT
mRNA: __________________________________________________________
amino acid: ______________________________________________________
type of mutation: _______________________ and _______________________
3. mutated DNA:
TAC TAA TAG CAA CT
mRNA: __________________________________________________________
amino acid: ______________________________________________________
type of mutation: _______________________ and _______________________
3
Sickle Cell Anemia
Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disorder that results from a point mutation in a gene on chromosome 11; this gene
code for one amino acid chain in a protein called hemoglobin that is found in red blood cells. There are 2 each of
two different kinds of amino acid chains in one molecule of hemoglobin. The two types are called alpha and beta.
The mutation that causes sickle cell anemia occurs in the beta chains. The result is a change in the shape of the
red blood cell. The change in the shape of the red blood cell results in many negative affects on the body,
including a decreased ability to carry oxygen in the blood, anemia, and damage to the capillaries throughout the
body, which causes pain and destroys major organs in the body.
A – allele for normal hemoglobin
a – allele for abnormal hemoglobin
AA – homozygous normal hemoglobin
Aa – heterozygous (carrier); called sickle
cell trait
Aa – heterozygous sickle cell disease*
* Remember, the word
disease is used here
because that is what it
has been called over
time; however, it is not a
true disease in that it is
not contagious nor can it
spread within a person
who has it
Use the information on point mutations to determine the type of mutation that results in sickle cell anemia.
1. Normal Beta Chain of Hemoglobin
DNA:
CAC GTG GAC TGA GGA CTC CTC
mRNA: _______________________________________________________________________
amino acid: ___________________________________________________________________
2. Sickle Cell Chain of Hemoglobin
DNA:
CAC GTG GAC TGA GGA CAC CTC
mRNA: _______________________________________________________________________
amino acid: ___________________________________________________________________
3. Describe the mutation that causes sickle cell anemia. _________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
4
mRNA codons
Given: mRNA sequence: AUG -
CCC
- AAU
-
GCG
- UUA - UGA
The DNA sequence is:
______ - ______ - ______ - ______ - ______ - ______
The tRNA sequence is:
______ - ______ - ______ - ______ - ______ - ______
Use the original mRNA sequence to determine the amino acids:
AUG - CCC
- AAU
- GCG - UUA - UGA
_____________ - ___________ - _____________ - ___________ - _____________ - _____________
Questions:
1. How many codons are in the mRNA sequence above? ___________
2. The tRNA sequence contains three nucleotide sequences that are called _______codons.
3. Amino acids are the building blocks of a certain type of molecule. The sequence of amino acids makes up a
( carbohydrate / protein / nucleic acid ) molecule. Circle one.
From the following DNA strands, 1) draw the appropriate mRNA strand. Then, 2) determine the number of codons
and the number of amino acids that can be made from each strand below.
5. Number
of codons:
_______
Number of
amino acids
that can be
made:
_________
4. Number of codons: _______
Number of amino acids that can be made: _________
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