MCAT Modules - Review

Prot —> mRNA —> cDNA —> dsDNA. (Step 2 via reverse transcriptase and step 3 via DNA Polymerase). Now the dsDNA is injected into a virus which infects bacteria to make lots of the DNA.

Denaturation (Heat to high temp), Primer Annealing (Cool slightly), Primer Extension via polymerase (Heat but not as much as step 1).

GE find us the length of a DNA Strand (how many base pairs long).

Not really sure why I did a module on this - basically you know they’re homo recessive because they have blue eyes (the recessive trait), and you know to use q BECAUSE we’re dealing with the recessive trait.

HP Equation gives P(allele frequencies). P^2 is probability of homo dominant, Q^2 is probability of homo recessive, 2pq is probability of heterozygous allele combo. P = frequency of dom allele, Q = frequency of recessive allele.

Discusses Dihybrid Crosses and the Law of Independent Assortment.

Don’t let the title fool you. This is short. Discusses complete, incomplete, and co-dominance.

Discuss genes, alleles, geno/phenotypes, and punnet squares. The Khan Academy video discusses the history (Gregor Mendel) but let’s be real, who cares.

Mutations can be good, bad, or both.

Define mutagens and then discuss endogenous and exogenous mutagens. (Endo: ROS); (Exo: intercalators, base analogues, carcinogens)

Small scale mutations (point: TTM; frame-shift: ID) and Large-scale mutations (translocation, inversion).

Point, Frame Shift, and Nonsense vs. Missense. Further divided Missense to Silent, Conservative, and Non-Conservative.

Clarifies that mutations arise at the DNA level, and from where mutations originate.

Discusses categories of tumor suppressors and then 2 examples: pRb and p53, both proteins.

Discusses the 3 mechanisms through which oncogenes are formed from proto-oncogenes, and types of oncogenes with examples.

I discuss ncRNAs (RNA that’s ready to perform tasks w/o becoming protein) and then move onto rRNA, tRNA, miRNA, snRNA, and snoRNA. Have fun with all these acronyms lol

Not really an important module but skip to 6:18 for new stuff (RNA Editing via the ADAR and CDAR Enzymes)

Discusses GTFs, then discusses activators/repressors and enhancers/silencers. Finally distinguishes between regulation of transcriptional euk and prok organisms.

Discusses HAT and HDAC enzymes to uncoil/coil DNA (uncoil = activate for transcription) then transitioned into DNA methylation as it relates to CpG Islands and MBB’s.

More terminology of the Lac Operon mechanism, refined ideas from the first part.

End of chapter random info (as I’ve done before). Although pay attention to end where I discuss donor:acceptor ratios of nucleobases.

Discusses why gene expression regulation occurs @ transcription level. Discusses the Jacob Monod Lac Operon’s structure (ZYA) and function (lactose metabolism) and how the repressor (@operator site) controls this process.

LISTEN @ 2x speed (on Apple podcasts). Discusses co- and post-translational modifications (GLUMPP) which occur for those proteins that aren’t fully ready to work even after translation finishes.

Discusses the conservative (Incorrect), dispersive(Incorrect), and Semi-Conservative (Correct) theories of replication.

Discuss endo- and exogenous factors that damage DNA, the process of Nucleotide Excision Repair (NER), and what happens when NER fails.

(This is where the modules get longer/content heavy). Discusses exo- and endonucleases as well as the Mismatch Repair Mechanism as a physiological fail safe.

Strand structure, protection factors (proks have none), and starting A2 (proks = fmet // euks = met)

Discusses the process using the APE Sites.

USELESS MODULE // I didn’t think I’d actually get it to 45 seconds LOL

I know we talked about this in 4:1 but this has more detail. Distinguishes between eukaryotic and prokaryotic transcription and reviews eukaryotic transcription in detail (with processing).

(Yes it has a different name). The 8-step process.

Introduce telomeres as “protective caps” to ensure protection and quality replication of DNA sequences. Also discuss single copy DNA (important for genetic info) vs repetitive DNA (telomeres are an example of this).

The strands (each of the 2 sugar phosphate backbones) run in opposite directions. That is all.

Really just a recap of the previous module + the types of bonding that forms the Double Helix

Discuss DNA’s basic structure as well as the nitrogenous base pairs.

(Content heavy!) Transcription, Structural Differences of Nucleic Acids, mRNA Processing, and RNA Interference

Search up the Lineweaver-Burke Plot on your own.

Covalent Modifications are changes made to a protein to accomplish a variety of tasks (activate, deactivate, etc). I discuss Small Post-translational Modifications, Zymogens, and Suicide Inhibitors.

MARTI (Motor, Antibodies, Receptors, Transport, and Ion Channel) Proteins. Don’t forget LITHOL for types of enzymes.

Discuss allostery, feedback loops, and the phosphofructokinase enzyme and it how it is involved in a feedback loop. (Pretty long module)

Details positive, negative, and noncooperation binding.

Discusses the steady state assumption and its equation, the MM Equation, and the catalytic efficiency equation. Also notes Kcat and Km and their interpretations.

I discuss the 3 assumptions that allow for the (many) conclusions we will reach later in this season.

The effects of the pH and Temperature factors on catalysis.

What they are and some examples. Discuss his minerals as well.

LITHOL // Transferase, ligase, oxidoreductase, isomerase, hydroplane, lyase

Details active and allosteric site binding and distinguishes between reaction and regulation.

Details how catalysts affect a reaction.

It’s in the title.

Discusses catalytic conditions and collision theory.