Genes

Question 1

What is meant by the term ‘degenerate code’?

Answer 1

In the genetic code more than one triplet codes for a single amino acid.

Question 2

Why is genetic code described as ‘universal’?

Answer 2

In nearly all organisms, the same triplet codes for the same amino acid.

Question 3

Describe what is meant by ‘non-overlapping’ code.

Answer 3

In the genetic code, each nucleotide is part of one triplet.

Question 4

Within a gene, what is an exon?

Answer 4

An exon is a sequence in a gene that codes for a sequence of amino acids.

Question 5

Within a gene, what is an intron?

Answer 5

An intron is a base sequence in a gene that is non-coding.

Question 6

What is a locus?

Answer 6

A locus is the position of a gene on a chromosome.

Question 7

Define the term ‘genome’.

Answer 7

The genome is the complete set of genes in a cell.

Question 8

Define the term ‘proteome’.

Answer 8

The proteome is the full range of proteins a cell is able to produce.