Short answers: 1. If an amino acid sequenced is changed, what happens to the res

Question

Short answers:

1. If an amino acid sequenced is changed, what happens to the resulting protein? Give an example.

2. Explain the language of DNA to Proteins. How does sequence, shape and function relate to each other?

3. What is thought to have allowed us to have developed a larger brain? __________ (fill the blank)

4. What are bacteriophages? What are three advantages to using them to control foodborne pathogens? What is the major difficulty in using these phages?

5. Rates of extinction today vs in the past

-What is responsible for mass extinctions, past and present?

6. Understand Habitat loss and degradation and it’s relationship to habitat patches.

7. What are corridors? Why are they important?

8. Megafaunal extinction

Explanation / Answer

1. A change in the amino acid sequence of a protein may lead to a change in the structure of the protein because of modified interaction amongst the protein groups. This may lead to loss of functioning of protein by modification in its active site. For eg., in sickle cell disease, the amino acids glutamic acid gets replaced by valine, resulting in a change in the cell shape and its inability to bind to haemoglobin.

2. DNA encodes for proteins through 2 pathways, firstly, the DNA is subjected to 'transcription' to produced mRNA transcripts which further code for proteins through a process called as translation. RNA polymerase is involved along with many other factors in the synthesis of mRNA. Then, for the process of translation, ribosomes attach themselves onto the mRNA coding for proteins and lead to production of amino acid polymers called peptides. A protein might be consisting of a single peptide or multiple units of peptides which together form a functional protein.
The sequence of amino acids in a protein determines the interaction that might take place between amino acids located at particular positions. The interaction is mostly amongst oppositely charged polar amino acid residues or hydrophobic residues. This interaction brings the amino acids closer to each other or repels them, giving the peptide section a particular shape. For eg. in a alpha helix of amino acids, there is an attractive force between every 4th amino acid, which leads to folding of the peptide chain into a helix. Based on the shape of various motifs in an amino acid, and their positions with respect to each other, the active site of the amino acid is created which represents its functionality. The interaction of amino acids located at this site with the incoming molecule drives functional reactions like nucleophilic reactions which eventually carry out the function of the protein.

3. Ecological Conditions. This is said to have an effect on our brain size because of the food eating habits, feeding behaviors etc.

4. Bacteriophages are viruses which are known to infect bacteria. Three advantages of using bacteriophages in control of food borne pathogens are:

A disadvantage of using phages can be that they have a very narrow host range and will not be able to carry out a pasteurization-like effect without raising the cost.

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