Common Mistakes & Misconceptions in Biology

Cell Structure and Cell Membrane

Cisterna crista
Cisterna = lumen of rER or Golgi Apparatus
Crista (cristae= plural) = infolding of the inner mitochondrial membrane
Wrong Correct
Ions are polar.. Ions are charged hence they cannot pass through the hydrophobic
core of the Cell urface !embrane.
"ucleolus contains rR"A "ucleolus synthesizes rR"A (#hich forms part of ribosome)$ but it
itself is made of %"A (coiled around histones)
&atty acid' hydrocarbon tails
interact #ith hydrophobic
bonds
&atty acid' hydrocarbon tails interact #ith hydrophobic interactions
Ribosomes ha(e one
membrane
Ribosomes do not ha(e membranes
&acilitated diffusion uses
only channel proteins.
Acti(e transport uses only
carrier proteins.
&acilitated diffusion uses both channel protein and carrier proteins.
)he carrier protein can change conformation #ithout A)* hydrolysis.
Acti(e transport uses only carrier proteins #hich can change
conformation only upon A)* hydrolysis.
*assage of small$
hydrophobic molecules
through the phospholipid
bilayer is called +diffusion,
*assage of small$ hydrophobic molecules through the phospholipid
bilayer is called +simple diffusion,
E-ocytosis is the same as
acti(e transport
E-ocytosis is a type of bul. transport re/uiring (esicles$ #hile acti(e
transport uses carrier proteins.
Biological Molecules
Wrong Correct
Cellulose is a protein 0R
collagen is a polysaccharide
Cellulose is a polysaccharide A"% collagen is a (fibrous) protein
Collagen is made up of
triple heli-
Tropocollagen is made up of triple heli-.
Globular protein is globular
in shape
Globular protein is spherical in shape. Use synonyms!
Enzymes
Actie site can only be used #hen describing enzymes!
&or other proteins eg. Receptors$ pumps$ transcription factors$ use allosteric sites " binding
sites!
&ailure to name the types of bonds affected #hen sub1ected to denaturation agents' factors. E.g.
Candidates must mention hydrogen"ionic bonds #hen high temperature is applied$ionic
bonds #hen p2 is changed or hea(y metals added$ hydrophobic interactions #hen organic
sol(ents added and disulphide bonds #hen a reducing agent is added.
%enaturation has t#o meanings3
4 &or proteins3 disruption of tertiary structure$ causing the protein to lose its 5% conformation
4 &or %"A 3 brea.ing of hydrogen bonds bet#een complementary base pairs causing the t#o %"A
strands to separate
Cell and #uclear $iision
Chromatids separate to become chromosomes
Chromatids are no longer called chromatids after they separate from the centromere
Wrong Correct
Chromosomes are pulled to
opposite ends of the cells by
spindle fibres
Chromosomes are pulled to opposite poles of the cells by spindle
fibres
Centromere split Centromere diide
Chromosome replicate %"A replicate (so each chromosome is no# seen comprising of t#o
sister chromatids)
!itosis has no homologous
chromosomes
2omologous chromosomes are already in cells irregardless of
#hether they are undergoing cell and nuclear di(ision. All humans
ha(e 65 pairs of homologous chromosomes.
%iploid number = amount of
%"A
%iploid number is the total number of chromosomes. %"A amount is
t#ice in a chromosome #ith 6 sister chromatids compared to a
chromosome that does not ha(e sister chromatids.
%"A replication occurs in the
interphase bet#een meiosis I
and II
%"A replication occurs once only in the interphase before meiosis I
0rganism is sterile because
gametes ha(e odd number of
chromosomes
0rganism is sterile because the organism itself ha(e odd number of
chromosomes and'or ha(e e(en number of chromosomes that do
not occur in homologous pairs
$#A and %enomics
7n8ip un#ind
7n8ip = brea.ing of hydrogen bonds bet#een complementary base pairs to separate the t#o %"A
strands.
7n#ind = unt#isting of the %"A double heli-

Be careful how you use the 2 terms!

9 %"A strand = 9 polynucleotide chain
9 %"A molecule is made up of 6 %"A strands
)he triplet of 5 bases that forms the genetic code is .no#n as
:ase triplet in %"A
Codon in mR"A (some textbooks refer codon to %"A too$ but #e;ll .eep to mR"A for no#)
Anticodon in tR"A
Wrong Correct
"on4coding genes "on4coding se/uences' regions
Genes are already defined as coding %"A
In leading strand$ %"A is
synthesi8ed in the <; to 5; direction$
#hile in lagging strand$ %"A is
synthesi8ed in the 5; to <; direction
%"A polymerase III synthesi8es %"A daughter strands in &' to
(' direction only. =eading strand is formed due to replication
to#ards replication for.$ #hile the lagging strand is formed due
to replication a#ay from replication for..
Control o) Eukaryotic and *rokaryotic %enome
Wrong Correct
Control elements are
proteins ' transcription
factors are %"A
Control elements (promoter$ silence and enhancer) are non4coding
%"A se/uences. )ranscription factors (#hich are proteins) bind to
control elements to regulate transcription.
*ro.aryotes ha(e control
elements
Eu.aryotes ha(e control elements$ #hile pro.aryotes ha(e regulatory
se/uences (li.e operator) and regulatory genes (li.e lacIgene).
:acteria di(ides by mitosis :acteria di(ides by binary fission.
Energetics
Wrong Correct
0ne of the electron carriers in the electron
transport chain is a proton pump.
)he electron carriers in the electron transport chain
are coupled to proton pumps.
Electrochemical gradient is the same as
concentration gradient
Electrochemical gradient includes concentration
gradient A"% electric potential gradient (so be careful
ho# you use the term>)
?hen Cl
4
ions enter the neurone$ it leads to
repolari8ation.
?hen Cl
4
ions enter the neurone$ it leads to
hyperpoloari8ation.
=ight dependent reactions occur in the
presence of light #hile light independent
=ight dependent reactions occur in the presence of
light #hile light independent reaction can occur in the
reaction occurs in the dar. presence and absence of light.
%enetic Basis o) +ariation
Wrong Correct
)he t#o genes are lin.ed so closely
together that crossing o(er does not
happen.
)he t#o genes are lin.ed so closely together that
crossing o(er to separate the t,o genes does not
happen.
$iersity and Eolution

Wrong Correct
)raits are passed on to the ne-t
generation
Genes'alleles are passed on to the ne-t generation
0rganisms mutate to adapt to the
en(ironment
!utations are random$ they cause (ariation #ithin
populations
!utations occur at a constant rate in
neutral theory
"eutral mutations ha(e been obser(ed' found to occur at a
constant rate in certain %"A se/uences or genes
0nly silent mutation is in(ol(ed in
neutral theory
"eutral theory in(ol(es silent mutation and any mutation
that results in a phenotype #hich is selecti(ely neutral.
Applications
Wrong Correct
Gene therapy is a techni/ue for introducing
healthy' therapeutic gene
..introducing normal allele'gene
*ac.age the normal allele into liposomes'
(irus
*ac.age the $#A containing the normal
allele"gene into liposomes' (irus
%eletion of a codon results in phenylalanine
not to be produced' gene lac.ing the amino
acid
%eletion of a codon results in phenylalanine not to
be coded' protein lac.ing the amino acid
Insertional inacti(ation can be used to
distinguish recombinant plasmids from
reannealed plasmids
Insertional inacti(ation can be used to
distinguish bacteria containingrecombinant plasmids
from bacteria containing reannealed plasmids.
In plant cloning$ clones ha(e same genes'
genetically similar to the same parent
In plant cloning$ clones are genetically identical to
the same parent
tem cells repair damaged cells tem cells replace damaged cells
tem cells repair damaged organs
In autoradiography$ e-pose the In autoradiography$ place a piece of @4ray)ilm o(er
nitrocellulose membrane to @4ray the nitrocellulose membrane$ #hich #ill re(eal the
bands
outhern :lotting includes gel
electrophoresis
outhern :lotting is carried out A&)ER gel
electrophoresis.
?hen describing gel electrophoresis$ #rite + direct current #as applied,
In nucleic aid hybridi8ation3 if radioactie probe is used$ autoradiography is used to (isualise the
%"A bands on @4ray film
In gel electrophoresis3 If ethidium bromide is use$ -+ light is used to (isualise the bands on the gel
%"A ligase forms phosphodiester bonds
Restriction en8ymes brea.s'clea(e phosphodiester bonds. Always write, restriction enymecuts !not
clea"e, degrade, break down# $%A at restriction sites
=igation = formation of phosphodiester bonds bet#een nucleotides
Annealing = formation of hydrogen bonds bet#een complementary base pairs
Southern Blotting simply means putting the gel into an al.ali so the al.ali can denature the %"A
into single4strands. *lace a nitrocellulose' nylon membrane o(er the gel under hea(y #eight so
that the single4stranded %"A can bind to the membrane after tra(elling by capillary action.
#ucleic acid hybridization simply means complementatary base pairing through hydrogen bonds
bet#een single4stranded$ radioacti(e and specific probe and single4stranded %"A.
Autoradiography simply means placing a piece of photographic or @4ray )ilm o(er the nitrocellulose
membrane$ #hich #ill re(eal the bands.
2o# to use ./01*2 termA )his can be used in e.g. .perform /01* analysis' if /01* band
)ragment is seen' /01* locus is located so close to disease allele