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What are nitrogenous bases?

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Nitrogenous bases are the building blocks of DNA and RNA, consisting of adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), guanine (G) in DNA, and uracil (U) in RNA. They pair specifically (A with T, C with G) to form the structure of nucleic acids.

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What is a complementary DNA strand?

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A complementary DNA strand is a strand that pairs with another DNA strand according to the base pairing rules (A-T and C-G). For example, if one strand has the sequence ACGT, the complementary strand will have the sequence TGCA.

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What is a mutation?

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A mutation is a change in the DNA sequence that can lead to changes in the structure and function of proteins. Mutations can be caused by various factors, including environmental influences and errors during DNA replication.

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What is sickle-cell anemia?

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Sickle-cell anemia is a genetic disorder caused by a mutation in the hemoglobin gene, leading to the production of abnormal hemoglobin that causes red blood cells to become sickle-shaped, resulting in various health complications.

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What type of mutation is a substitution?

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A substitution mutation is a type of mutation where one base pair in the DNA sequence is replaced by another. This can lead to changes in the amino acid sequence of proteins.

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What is transcription in genetics?

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Transcription is the process by which the information in a DNA sequence is copied into a complementary RNA sequence, specifically mRNA, which then carries the genetic information to the ribosome for protein synthesis.

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What is the role of mRNA?

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mRNA (messenger RNA) serves as a template for protein synthesis, carrying the genetic information from DNA in the nucleus to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm, where proteins are made.

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What is the double-helix structure of DNA?

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The double-helix structure of DNA refers to its shape, which consists of two intertwined strands that form a spiral. This structure was first described by James Watson and Francis Crick, based on Rosalind Franklin's X-ray diffraction images.

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What is the significance of Rosalind Franklin's work?

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Rosalind Franklin's X-ray diffraction images of DNA provided critical evidence for the double-helix structure of DNA, which was essential for understanding how genetic information is stored and transmitted.

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What are polypeptides?

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Polypeptides are chains of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. They are the building blocks of proteins and are synthesized based on the sequence of codons in mRNA.