Name ____________________________Date_____________
Chapter 9 DNA & Its Role in Heredity
Reading Guide
Concept 9.1 DNA Structure Reflects Its Role as the Genetic Material
1. List 3 of the points of circumstantial evidence that DAN is the genetic material.
2. _____________________________was the first to isolate DNA and called it ______________________.
He as the first to suggest that this material was the genetic material of the cell.
3. Experiments using dye to stain DNA in confirmed what other two predictions that had been made
regarding DNA:
4. Circumstantial evidence needed to be confirmed with experiments because there was the possibility that
____________________ bound to DNA could also be responsible for carrying genetic information.
____________________________experiments were used to test these presumptions.
5. Use Figure 9.3 on page 175 in your book to describe the transformation experiment and what the outcome
was.
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6. Use figure below and the following video on the Hershey- Chase Experiment to answer questions #7-9.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aidu6r_w8A0
7. Describe how a virus infects a human cell.
8. Describe how the chemical makeup of DNA and proteins differs in terms of element composition.
9. Describe how attaching a radioactive label can help support the claim that DNA is the genetic material.
10. Define transgenic.
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11. Which English scientist used X-Ray crystallography to first revel the spiral or helical structure of DNA?
STOP & WATCH: HHMI The Double Helix http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/double-helix
12. Explain Chargaff’s rule.
13. List the 4 key features that define DNA structure:
STOP & WATCH: DNA STRUCTURE (Major & Minor Grooves )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HgL5OFip-0
14. What is Z-DNA and when does it appear to form?
15. What are the 4 functions of DNA?
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Concept 9.2 DNA Replicates Semiconservatively
16. Explain what is meant by semiconservative replication of DNA. See Figure 9.7 and the animation on the
Experimental Evidence for Semiconservative DNA Replication.
STOP & WATCH: POL Experimental Evidence for Semiconservative DNA Replication
http://www.pol2e.com/at09.02.html
17. What are the 2 general steps of DNA Replication?
18. What provides the energy for a nucleotide to be added to the 3’ end of the growing DNA strand?
19. While reading the section starting with “DNA polymerases add nucleotides to the growing chain” and
ending on page 181, write in bullet form, the process of DNA replication. The steps may not be presented
in order in the book. Include all important enzymes to the process.
STOP & WATCH: Bozeman DNA Replication https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBmO_rmXxIw
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20. What other functions do DNA polymerases have? How many different DNA polymerases have been
identified in humans?
21. What is the difference between the leading strand and lagging strand of DNA during replication?
22. Explain Okazaki fragments and the function of DNA ligase in DNA replication of the lagging strand.
23. Why does the strand of DNA get shorter with each cycle of replication?
24. What is a telomere and why is it needed? What happens when the telomeres are no longer in place?
25. What is the function of telomerase and in what cells is it active?
26. What are the two major repair mechanisms after DNA replication?
27. What is PCR?
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Concept 9.3 Mutations Are Heritable Changes in DNA
28. Define mutation.
29. Describe the two types of mutations that occur in multicellular organisms.
30. Explain the 4 types of mutations in terms of their effects of protein coding genes and their functions.
31. Define point mutations and mutagens.
32. What is the cause of sickle cell anemia?
33. What is the possible result of a point mutation in the TP53 gene?
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34. Define chromosomal mutations.
35. List and explain the 4 types of chromosomal mutations and use the figure below to help
36. What are the mechanisms that may result in spontaneous mutations?
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37. What are the mechanisms that may result in induced mutations?
38. What is the potential benefit of mutations?
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