Question 1: What is DNA replication and what are the enzymes involved in the process?
Answer: DNA replication is the process by which a cell makes an identical copy of its DNA before cell division. The enzymes involved in the process include DNA helicase, DNA polymerase, and DNA ligase. DNA helicase unwinds the double-stranded DNA molecule, DNA polymerase adds new nucleotides to the newly synthesized strand, and DNA ligase seals the gaps between the fragments.
Question 2: What is the role of RNA polymerase in transcription?
Answer: RNA polymerase is an enzyme that is responsible for transcribing DNA into RNA. It binds to the promoter region of a gene and separates the two strands of DNA, allowing the RNA polymerase to read the template strand and synthesize a complementary RNA strand.
Question 3: What is the genetic code and how is it deciphered?
Answer: The genetic code is a set of rules by which information encoded in DNA or RNA sequences is translated into proteins. It is deciphered through a process called translation, which involves the ribosome reading the codons (three-letter sequences of nucleotides) on the mRNA molecule and matching them with the appropriate amino acid.
Question 4: What is the process of splicing and how does it affect gene expression?
Answer: Splicing is the process by which introns are removed from pre-mRNA and the remaining exons are joined together to form the mature mRNA. This affects gene expression by determining which parts of the gene are translated into protein and which are not.
Question 5: What is gene regulation and what are the different mechanisms of regulation?
Answer: Gene regulation refers to the control of gene expression in cells. The different mechanisms of regulation include transcriptional regulation, post-transcriptional regulation, translational regulation, and post-translational regulation.
Question 6: What is PCR and how is it used in molecular biology?
Answer: PCR (polymerase chain reaction) is a technique used to amplify DNA sequences. It involves repeated cycles of heating and cooling that cause the DNA strands to separate and the DNA polymerase to synthesize new strands. PCR is used in molecular biology for DNA sequencing, genetic testing, and gene expression analysis.
Question 7: What is a plasmid and how is it used in genetic engineering?
Answer: A plasmid is a small, circular piece of DNA that is found in bacteria and can replicate independently from the chromosomal DNA. Plasmids are used in genetic engineering to introduce new genes into a cell and to produce large amounts of a desired protein.
Question 8: What is CRISPR-Cas and how is it used in gene editing?
Answer: CRISPR-Cas is a revolutionary gene-editing technology that allows scientists to precisely edit genes. It works by using an RNA molecule that targets a specific gene sequence and a protein called Cas9 that cuts the DNA at that site. The cut DNA can then be repaired, either by inserting a new gene or by deleting or modifying the existing gene.
Question 9: What is a microarray and how is it used in gene expression analysis?
Answer: A microarray is a tool used to analyze gene expression on a large scale. It consists of a glass slide or chip containing thousands of DNA probes that are complementary to specific genes. By hybridizing the probes with RNA from a sample, researchers can measure the expression of thousands of genes simultaneously.
Question 10: What is recombinant DNA technology and how is it used in molecular biology?
Answer: Recombinant DNA technology involves combining DNA from different sources to create a new DNA molecule. It is used in molecular biology to create genetically modified For