Nature of science
Methods
Cells
Characteristics
Basic Components
Prokaryotes vs. Eukaryotes
Evolution
Natural Selesction
Mutation
Biochemistry
Biomolecules Proteins, Carbs, Lipids etc.
Metabolism
Photosynthesis
Respiration
Cell Cycle
Mitosis
Bacterial Fission
Inheritance
Meiosis
Mendel
Genetics
Disease
Protein Synthesis
DNA, including replication
Transcription
Translation
Biotechnology
Viruses
Methods
Applications
Inheritance
Meiosis
Mendel
Genetics
Disease
Protein Synthesis
DNA, including replication
Transcription
Translation
Biotechnology
Viruses
Methods
Applications
Example Essay Questions (note these were off old tests and some are considerably harder than I would consider using on a current test)
1) Describe several mechanisms cells use to regulate their genes (in other words, how do cells control what and how their genes are expressed).
2) Discuss three uses of Biotechnology. Explain how the gene
technology is used, the benefits, and the potential risks.
3) What is a virus? Why is a study of viruses necessary for a
complete understanding of genetic technology? What parts of the
DNA technology toolkit come from viruses?
4) What is Mendel famous for? What did he figure out? What two
"laws" did Mendel determine? Explain them. How has
this understanding changed since Mendel's time?
5) Describe the general process of DNA replication. When does
this process occur? Why does this process occur? Who first determined
how this process worked?
6) What are Mendel's "Laws"? How did he get this information
(be as complete as possible)? What has been added to genetics
since Mendel?
7) How does a prokaryote regulate gene expression? How is this
different from an eukaryote? What do eukaryotes add to the process?
8) Explain the process of transcription and translation. Be
as complete as possible.
9) Use the following genetic code to produce mRNA, appropriate
tRNA, and a polypeptide sequence from the given DNA sequence.
AAU Asparagine CAU Histidine GAU Aspartic acid UAU Tyrosine
AAC Asparagine CAC Histidine GAC Aspartic acid UAC Tyrosine
AAA Lysine CAA Glutamine GAA Glutamic acid UAA Stop
AAG Lysine CAG Glutamine GAG Glutamic acid UAG Stop
ACU Threonine CCU Proline GCU Alanine UCU Serine
ACC Threonine CCC Proline GCC Alanine UCC Serine
ACA Threonine CCA Proline GCA Alanine UCA Serine
ACG Threonine CCG Proline GCG Alanine UCG Serine
AGU Serine CGU Arginine GGU Glycine UGU Cysteine
AGC Serine CGC Arginine GGC Glycine UGC Cysteine
AGA Arginine CGA Arginine GGA Glycine UGA Stop
AGG Arginine CGG Arginine GGG Glycine UGG Tryptophan
AUU Isoleucine CUU Leucine GUU Valine UUU Phenylalanine
AUC Isoleucine CUC Leucine GUC Valine UUC Phenylalanine
AUA Isoleucine CUA Leucine GUA Valine UUA Leucine
AUG Methionine/Start CUG Leucine GUG Valine UUG Leucine
Coding Strand
3'TACTCCGATCTAAGAAAATGCCCGGAGCGAGTTTCGTATATACGGACT5'
10) Discuss one kind of genetic manipulation that we currently do. How is it used? What benefit does it produce? Are there any downsides to this technology?
11) What parts of meiosis can be used to explain the observations
of heredity (i.e. Mendel's Laws)? Explain.
12) Explain X-linked recessive inheritance (e.g., hemophilia
in humans). How is this different from a disorder such as Down's
syndrome? What about Turner and Klinefelter syndromes?
13) Explain the process of transcription and translation. Be
as complete as possible.
14) Describe how you get the DNA information expressed as protein.
Where does it occur?
15) Viruses are very simple organisms. How do they reproduce?
What variation is present in these cycles? What kinds of viruses
are there?