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Biology Vocab
Chapter 8-9 Vocab
Term | Definition |
---|---|
DNA | Double ladder; molecule that holds all of the information for life. |
mRNA | Form of RNA that carries genetic information from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, where it serves as a template for protein synthesis. |
tRNA | Form of RNA that brings amino acids to ribosomes during protein synthesis. |
rRNA | RNA that is in the ribosome and guides the translation of mRNA into a protein; also used as a molecular clock. |
Griffith | Finds a transforming principle. |
Avery | Identifies DNA as transforming principle. |
Hershey&Chase | Confirms that DNA is the genetic material. |
Bacteriophage | Virus that affects bacteria. |
Nucleotide | Monomer that forms DNA and has a phosphate group, a sugar, and a nitrogen base. |
Ribose | A sugar of the pentose class. |
Deoxyribose | A sugar derived from ribose. |
Adenine | A compound that is one of the four constituent bases of nucleic acids. |
Guanine | One of the four constituent bases of nucleic acids. |
Cytosine | A compound found in living tissue as a constituent base of nucleic acids. |
Thymine | A compound that is one of the four constituent bases of nucleic acids. |
Uracil | A compound found in living tissue as a constituent base of RNA. |
Watson&Crick | Developed an accurate model of DNA's 3-dimensional structure. |
Double Helix | Model that compares the structure of a DNA molecule , in which two strands wind around each other. |
Codon | Sequence of 3 nucleotides that codes for one amino acid. |
Anticodon | Set of three nucleotides in a tRNA molecule that binds to a complementary mRNA codon during translation. |
Start Codon | Codon that signals to ribosomes to begin translation; codes for the first amino acid in a protein. |
Stop Codon | Codon that signals to ribosomes to stop translation. |
Amino Acids | Molecule that makes up proteins; composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur. |
Methionine | A sulfur containing amino acid that is a constituent of most proteins. |
Purine | A colorless crystalline compound with basic properties. |
Pyrimidine | A colorless crystalline compound with basic properties. |
Rosalind Franklin | Produced x-ray photographs of DNA that indicated it was helix. |
Base Pairing Rules | Rule that describes how nucleotides form bonds in DNA; adenine (A) bonds with thymine (T), and guanine (G) bonds with cytosine (C). |
Replication | Process by which DNA is copied. |
Replication Fork | The point at which the two strands of DNA are separated. |
Transcription | Process by which mRNA is decoded and a protein is produced. |
Translation | Process of copying a nucleotide sequence of DNA to form a complementary strand of mRNA. |
DNA Polymerase | Enzyme that makes bonds between nucleotides, forming an identical strand of DNA during replication. |
RNA Polymerase | Enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of a complementary strand of RNA from a DNA template. |
Central Dogma | Theory that states that, in cells, information only flows from DNA to RNA to proteins. |
Operon | Section of DNA that contains all of the code to begin transcription, regulate transcription, and build proteins; includes a promotor, regulatory gene, and structural gene. |
Gene | Specific region of DNA that codes for a particular protein. |
Promoter | Section of DNA to which RNA polymerase binds, starting the transcription or mRNA. |
Mutation | Change in the DNA sequence. |
Point Mutation | Mutation that involves a substitution of only one nucleotide. |
Frameshift Mutation | Mutation that involves the insertion or deletion of a nucleotide in the DNA sequence. |
Mutagens | Agent that can induce or increase the frequency of mutation in organisms. |
Restriction Enzymes | Enzyme that cuts DNA molecules at specific nucleotide sequencing. |
Gel Electrophoresis | Method of separating various lengths of DNA strands by applying an electrical current to a gel. |
Polymerase Chain Reaction | Method for increasing the quantity of DNA y separating it into two strands and adding primers and enzymes. |
Primer | Short segment of DNA that initiates replication by DNA polymerase. |
DNA Fingerprint | Unique sequence of DNA base pairs that can be used to identify a person at the molecular level. |
Clone | Genetically identical copy of a single gene or an entire organism. |
Genetic Engineering | Process of changing an organisms DNA to give the organism new traits. |
Plasmid | Circle piece of genetic material fund in bacteria that can replicate separately from the DNA of the main chromosome |
Recombinant DNA | Genetically engineered DNA that contains genes from more than organism or species. |
Transgenic Organism | organism whose genome has been altered to contain one or more genes from another organism or species. |
Genomics | The study of genomes. |
Human Genome Project | Project whose goal is to map, sequence, and identify all of the genes in the human genome. |
Gene Sequencing | Process of determining the order of DNA nucleotides in genes and genomes. |
Gene Therapy | Procedure to treat a disease in which a defective or missing gen is replaced or a new gene is inserted into a patients genome. |
Genetic Screening | Process of testing DNA to determine the chance a person has, or might pass on, a genetic order. |
Nuclear Transfer | Cloning. |
Exon | Sequence of DNA that codes information for protein synthesis. |
Intron | Segment of a gene that does not code for an amino acid. |