Biology (Mader), 10th Edition

Chapter 12: Molecular Biology of the Gene

Learning Outcomes

After studying this chapter, you should be able to accomplish the following outcomes.

The Genetic Material

1. List the properties that a substance must possess in order to serve as the genetic material of an organism.
2. Explain how the experiments of Griffiths and others demonstrated that DNA was the genetic material of an organism.
3. Describe the chemical structure of DNA as defined by the Watson and Crick model, and list the evidence of other scientists who contributed to this model.

4. Explain why the replication of DNA is described as semiconservative.
5. List the three steps of DNA replication.
6. Contrast DNA replication in eukaryotes and prokaryotes.

The Genetic Code of Life

7. Define the central dogma of molecular biology.
8. Explain why the genetic code is universal.

9. List the events that occur during the formation of a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule during transcription.
10. Describe how mRNA molecules are processed in a eukaryote.

11. Define the role of transfer RNA (tRNA) in translating the genetic code.
12. Explain the role of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) in translating the genetic code.
13. List the three stages of translation and briefly discuss the events that occur during each stage.

Structure of the Eukaryotic Chromosome

14. Contrast euchromatin with heterochromatin and describe the DNA packing state of each.