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Understanding Viruses: Genomes, Structures, and Replication Study Guide

This guide covers the fundamental structure of DNA, including the double helix, nucleotides, and base pairing. It details the diverse organization and packaging of genomes across different life forms such as viruses, bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes. Key concepts include supercoiling, chromatin structure, the C-value paradox, and the hierarchy of DNA compaction in eukaryotes.

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DNA Structure and Genomic Complexity

DNA and Chromosome Structure

This module covers DNA structure, forms, and genomic complexity and packaging across viruses, bacteria, eukaryotes, and archaeans.

  • DNA structure and forms
  • Monomer
  • Nucleotides
  • Phosphodiester linkage
  • Purines and Pyrimidines
  • Nitrogenous bases
  • Antiparallel strands
  • Hydrogen bonding
  • Base-stacking
  • B-DNA
  • A-DNA
  • Z-DNA
  • H-DNA
  • Genomes
  • Genome complexity
  • DNA packaging
  • Histones
  • Supercoiling

Mendelian Genetics

Genetic Terminology and Concepts

  • Allele
  • Genotype
  • Phenotype
  • Homozygous
  • Heterozygous
  • Dominant allele
  • Recessive allele

Punnett Square Analysis

Learn to use monohybrid and dihybrid crosses to predict the mathematical probability of specific genotypic and phenotypic ratios in offspring.

  • Monohybrid cross
  • Dihybrid cross
  • Genotypic ratio
  • Phenotypic ratio
  • Probability

Organization and Types of Viral Genomes

Viral Genome and Structure Organization

Viral chromosomes come in a variety of forms including double or single stranded RNA or DNA, and viruses can be non-enveloped or enveloped.

  • Viral chromosomes
  • dsRNA
  • ssRNA
  • dsDNA
  • ssDNA
  • Non-enveloped virus
  • Enveloped virus
  • Capsid
  • Tobacco Mosaic Virus
  • Canine Parvovirus
  • Ebola virus
  • Herpes simplex
  • Rotavirus
  • Retrovirus
  • Reverse transcriptase

Molecular Genetics

The Central Dogma

Understand the flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA (transcription) and RNA to protein (translation).

DNA Structure, Genomic Complexity, and Packaging

DNA Structure and Genomic Complexity

This content explores DNA structure, forms, and genomic complexity across viruses, bacteria, eukaryotes, and archaeans, including chromosome packaging and supercoiling.

  • DNA structure and forms
  • Bacterial genomes
  • Plasmids
  • Nucleoid
  • Supercoiling
  • Topoisomerase II
  • Topoisomerase I
  • Eukaryotic chromosomes
  • Chromatin
  • C-value paradox
  • Repetitive DNA
  • Intergenic regions

Human Genome Composition and Repetitive DNA

The human genome consists of unique sequence DNA and repetitive sequence DNA including retrotransposons and satellite DNA.

  • Human genome composition
  • Repetitive sequence DNA
  • LTR retrotransposons
  • Non-LTR retrotransposons
  • LINEs
  • SINEs
  • Satellite DNA
  • VNTRs (variable number tandem repeats)
  • Tandem repeats
  • Telomeres
  • Centromeres
  • Alpha satellite DNA

Eukaryotic and Archaeal Chromosome Packaging

This content examines eukaryotic chromosome packaging through nucleosomes and radial loops, alongside the structure and histone homology of archaeal chromosomes.

  • Eukaryotic chromosome packaging
  • Nucleosomes
  • 30nm fiber
  • Solenoid structure
  • Radial loops
  • 300nm fiber
  • Non-histone protein chromosome scaffold
  • Matrix attachment regions
  • Heterochromatin
  • Euchromatin
  • Facultative heterochromatin
  • Constitutive heterochromatin
  • SMC proteins
  • Condensin
  • Cohesin
  • Archaeal chromosomes
  • Archaeal histones

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