1. Do organisms with larger genomes have more genes? Why or why not? Explain your answer. (6 points)
2. Describe the structure of proteins. Include in your answer a description of the levels of protein folding and the types of chemical bonds used to construct each level. (12 points)
3. Identify an example of prion disease. What is the cause of this specific disease or disorder? What are the cellular effects? Be sure to explain what happens in the cell. (8 points)
4. The central dogma of Biology is DNA - RNA - Protein. DNA is transcribed to RNA and RNA is translated to protein. Compare and contrast these molecules (DNA, RNA, and proteins) and cellular processes (transcription and translation) between prokaryote cells and eukaryotic cells. Be sure to include where these processes occur in each cell type. (12 points)
1. Do organisms with larger genomes have more genes? Why or why not? Explain your answer. (6 points)
To answer this question, we first need to understand the concepts of genomes and genes.
A genome refers to the entire set of genetic material present in an organism's cells. It includes both the coding regions (genes) and non-coding regions of DNA. Genes, on the other hand, are specific segments of DNA that carry the instructions for making proteins.
Now, whether organisms with larger genomes have more genes or not depends on various factors. One important factor is the presence of non-coding DNA. Non-coding DNA makes up a significant portion of the genome, and although it does not code for proteins, it performs other important functions such as gene regulation and structural stability.
Therefore, it is possible for organisms with larger genomes to have more non-coding DNA and fewer protein-coding genes, resulting in a lower gene count. On the other hand, organisms with smaller genomes might have less non-coding DNA and a higher density of protein-coding genes, leading to a higher gene count.
In summary, the relationship between genome size and gene count is not straightforward. It depends on the presence and amount of non-coding DNA in the genome, which can significantly vary between different organisms. Therefore, a larger genome does not necessarily equate to more genes, and vice versa.