Warm Up 4 is due Wednesday, January 30, 2002 at 9:30 am.

Please type the last 4 digits of your Student ID Number: (Important!)
Please type your LAST name, and FIRST initial or first name:
Please type in a 'nickname': (In case your answer is used in class)

The following three questions refer to material you were to read in preparation for class. These questions require you to write a three or four sentence response. It is OK to answer 'I don't know' - but STATE WHY you are confused! (Don't just say 'I don't know' - you probably DO!) Each WarmUp worth 3 points if answered on time and must be submitted via the web.

WarmUp 1, Warm Up 1 responses, WarmUp 2, Warm Up 2 responses, WarmUp 3, Warm Up 3 responses.

QUESTION 1: DNA is a double-stranded molecule, meaning that each DNA molecule contains two strands of DNA running in opposite directions. Why do you think it is advantageous for the cell to maintain DNA as a double stranded molecule rather than a single-stranded molecule like RNA?

QUESTION 2: In your own words, what is a gene? Do you think there is a gene for everything about 'you' - not only your hair color and eye color, but also for aspects of your personality or behavior? What is a genome? (No, it is not a small ceramic statue in your garden, that would be a a gnome!!! ; )

QUESTION 3: Three different RNAs are involved in turning the information contained in DNA into a 3-dimensional, functional protein. What is mRNA and what does it do? What is rRNA and what does it do? What is tRNA, and what does it do? Please study the figure on translation in your notes carefully!

QUESTION 4: (Optional) Rosalind Franklin collected X-ray data crucial to the discovery of DNA's structure. However, she is hardly mentioned in some accounts of the discovery of DNA. Your textbook presents a short essay about the discovery of the structure of DNA (p. 196); read it and speculate why she might be less well known than Watson and Crick. Why was she not awarded a Nobel Prize in 1962 with Watson and Crick?

You may change your mind as often as you wish. When you are satisfied with your responses click the SUBMIT button. You will receive a "THANK YOU" page as a confirmation that your response has been sent to me.

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