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DNA Virtual Study

Below are several questions about DNA and modern applications of DNA in medicine.  Use the links provided and several more reputable websites to answer the questions thoroughly.

Ø        ALL ANSWERS MUST BE IN YOUR OWN WORDS (NO COPYING AND PASTING INFORMATION OR TEXT, I.E. NO PLAGIARISM)

Ø        ADD ADDITIONAL SOURCES (COPY AND PASTE WEBSITE http:// ONLY) YOU USED IN FINDING ADDITIONAL INFO FOR EACH QUESTION.

I have already provided some links to help you get started.  You will need the Flash plug-in.

  1. Take a tour of the basics. http://gslc.genetics.utah.edu/units/basics/tour/ What nucleotides pair together?  

  2. What holds the DNA nucleotides together (the sides of the ladder) in one strand of DNA?

  3. What holds the two DNA strands (the two complementary bases) together? Is this a weak or strong bond?

  4. How can a DNA molecule "hold" information?

  5. How can only 4 letters tell the cell what to do?

  6. What do you think is meant by the statement: DNA is a double-stranded, antiparallel molecule? Antiparallel: is one half upside down?

  7. What is a gene?

  8. How does all the DNA fit into a cell?  Describe how DNA is packaged.

  9. How many chromosomes do humans have?

  10. What can we learn from looking at our chromosomes?

  11. What is inheritance? Why do we look like our parents and siblings? Why don't we look exactly like our parents?

  12. How many possible combinations of chromosomes/genes are there?

  13. How do proteins work in the body?

  14. What roles do proteins play in sending pain signals?

  15. What is the difference between receptor proteins and structural proteins?

  16. Where do you think specialized proteins in our cells come from?

  17. How are proteins manufactured?

  18. Mitosis/Meiosis:  How does one cell become a trillion?  Describe the process.

  19. How many amino acids can be specified by more than one triplet codon? (For example, can methionine be specified in more than one way?  How about phenylalanine?  Count up how many amino acids that have more than one triplet codon coding for them.) When more than one codon exists for a particular amino acid are the codons similar?

  20. What is a promoter?  What is a mutation? http://gslc.genetics.utah.edu/units/disorders/

  21. Explain what “protein folding” means and why it is important. WEBSITES USED: Protein folding

  22. What is gene therapy?  WEBSITES USED: http://www.accessexcellence.com/AB/BA/Gene_Therapy_Overview.html

  23. (5 points) Are there any successes using gene therapy?  Explain what scientists are trying to do or have done in this area. WEBSITES USED: 
    (find your own, up to date, website articles)

    Use the following websites or others you may find to answer the next few questions: 
    http://www.ornl.gov/hgmis/publicat/primer2001/index.html
    http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/291/5507/1304

  24. What is the human genome project?

  25. Has the human genome project been completed? When was it/will it be completed? Who has been working on it (main scientists/companies/agencies)?

  26. What can the information from the human genome project be used for?

  27. What is a genetic disorder? WEBSITES USED: http://gslc.genetics.utah.edu/units/disorders/whataregd/

  28. Describe the four categories of genetic disorders:
                   Chromosome Abnormalities
                   Single-Gene Disorders
                   Multifactorial Disorders
                   Mitochondrial Disorders

 
 Please Disregard this link.  It may be used next week, but is not pertinent to this week.  (0Willy Wonka and Genetic Engineering
 

Human Biology On-line
Instructor:  Ms. Janda
Mt. Carmel High School
9550 Carmel Mountain Road
San Diego, California  92129
(858) 484-1180
Last updated: 08/27/2008