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Microbiology Exam 2 Review Topics

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Terms in this set (22)

  • Central Dogma of Molecular Biology

    Replication, Transcription, and Translation flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein.

  • Difference between DNA polymerase and RNA polymerase

    DNA polymerase synthesizes DNA during replication; RNA polymerase synthesizes RNA during transcription.

  • Messelson-Stahl Experiment

    Demonstrated semi-conservative DNA replication using isotopic labeling of DNA.

  • Operon

    A cluster of genes under control of a single promoter, producing polycistronic mRNA.

  • Role of Sigma Factors

    Proteins that direct RNA polymerase to specific promoters to initiate transcription.

  • Rho-dependent Transcription Termination

    Termination mechanism where Rho protein binds RNA and causes RNA polymerase to dissociate.

  • Gel Shift Assay

    Technique to show protein-DNA binding by observing mobility shifts in electrophoresis.

  • Positive vs Negative Gene Regulation

    Positive control activates transcription; negative control represses transcription.

  • Lac Operon Regulation

    Controlled by both positive (CAP-cAMP) and negative (LacI repressor) mechanisms.

  • Quorum Sensing

    Cell-density dependent gene regulation using autoinducers to coordinate behavior.

  • Peptidoglycan Synthesis Antibiotics

    Penicillin and beta-lactams inhibit peptidoglycan cross-linking, weakening bacterial cell walls.

  • Beta-lactamase

    Enzyme produced by bacteria that breaks down beta-lactam antibiotics, conferring resistance.

  • Horizontal vs Vertical Gene Transfer

    Vertical: parent to offspring; Horizontal: transfer between unrelated bacteria.

  • Types of Horizontal Gene Transfer

    Transformation, transduction (generalized and specialized), and conjugation.

  • Transformation Competence Proof Experiment

    Mixing two strains (R + G) produces yellow (Y) colonies, showing DNA uptake and recombination.

  • Transduction

    Gene transfer via bacteriophages; generalized transfers random DNA, specialized transfers specific DNA.

  • Transposons

    Mobile genetic elements that can jump within genomes, often carrying antibiotic resistance genes.

  • CRISPR Adaptive Immunity

    Bacterial system that stores foreign DNA sequences to target and destroy invading DNA in future infections.

  • Viroids

    Subviral agents composed of non-coding RNA that interfere with host RNA function.

  • Prions

    Protein-only infectious agents causing diseases by inducing misfolding of normal proteins.

  • Metagenomics

    Sequencing environmental DNA to study microbial communities without culturing.

  • Transcriptomics Techniques

    Includes gene chips and RNA sequencing to analyze gene expression patterns.