Content Category 1B

Transmission of genetic information from the gene to the protein

Content Category 1B consists of 18% of Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems questions

What is included in this content category?

• How DNA and RNA store, replicate, and transmit genetic information through transcription and translation.

• Knowledge of polynucleotide composition, double-helix structure, base-pairing rules, and mechanisms of DNA replication.
• How gene expression is controlled in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, including developmental and environmental regulation.

• DNA sequencing, amplification, gene therapy, and other molecular techniques used in medical and research settings.

Specific Content Covered in Content Category 1B

Specific Content Covered in Content Category 1B
Free

Amino Acids, Peptides, Proteins (OC, BC)

Free

Nucleotides and Nucleic Acids (BC, BIO)

Nucleic Acid Structure and Function (BIO, BC)

• Description

• Nucleotides and nucleosides

• Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA): double helix, Watson–Crick model of DNA structure
• Base pairing specificity: A with T, G with C

• Function in transmission of genetic information

• DNA denaturation, reannealing, and hybridization

DNA Replication (BIO)

• Mechanism of replication: separation of strands, specific coupling of free nucleic acids

• Semiconservative nature of replication

• Specific enzymes involved in replication
• Origins of replication, multiple origins in eukaryotes

• Replicating the ends of DNA molecule

Repair of DNA (BIO)

• Repair during replication
• Repair of mutations

Genetic Code (BIO)

• Central Dogma: DNA → RNA → protein

• The triplet code

• Codon–anticodon relationship

• Degenerate code, wobble pairing
• Missense, nonsense codons

• Initiation, termination codons

• Messenger RNA (mRNA)

Transcription (BIO)

• Transfer RNA (tRNA); ribosomal RNA (rRNA)

• Mechanism of transcription

• mRNA processing in eukaryotes, introns, exons
• Ribozymes, spliceosomes, small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs), small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs)

• Functional and evolutionary importance of introns

Translation (BIO)

• Roles of mRNA, tRNA, rRNA

• Role and structure of ribosomes
• Initiation, termination co-factors

• Post-translational modification of proteins

Eukaryotic Chromosome Organization (BIO)

• Chromosomal proteins

• Single copy vs. repetitive DNA

• Supercoiling
• Heterochromatin vs. euchromatin

• Telomeres, centromeres

Control of Gene Expression in Prokaryotes (BIO)

• Operon Concept, Jacob-Monod Model

• Gene repression in bacteria
• Positive control in bacteria

Control of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes (BIO)

• Transcriptional regulation

• DNA binding proteins, transcription factors

• Gene amplification and duplication

• Post-transcriptional control, basic concept of splicing (introns, exons)
• Cancer as a failure of normal cellular controls, oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes

• Regulation of chromatin structure

• DNA methylation

• Role of non-coding RNAs

Recombinant DNA and Biotechnology (BIO)

• How DNA and RNA store, replicate, and transmit genetic information through transcription and translation.

• Knowledge of polynucleotide composition, double-helix structure, base-pairing rules, and mechanisms of DNA replication.
• How gene expression is controlled in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, including developmental and environmental regulation.

• DNA sequencing, amplification, gene therapy, and other molecular techniques used in medical and research settings.

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