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Protein Synthesis
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| DNA | A nucleic acid that serves as the ultimate source of genetic material. This molecule consists of 2 strands, deoxyribose sugar, and thymine. |
| Nucleotide | A building block molecule for DNA and RNA. |
| mRNA | A nucleic acid that carries the message from the DNA to the ribosomes where proteins are assembled. |
| tRNA | A nucleic acid that brings the amino acids to the ribosomes based on the codon information. |
| rRNA | A nucleic acid that combines with proteins to form the ribosome. |
| Double helix | A twisted ladder shape that consists of two strands of nucleotides twisted around each other. Used to describe the structure of DNA, not RNA. |
| Watson and Crick | Used Chargoff's data and a picture taken by Rosalind Franklin to determine the structure of DNA in 1953. |
| Semiconservative Replication | The accepted model of DNA replication. Each new DNA molecule consists of one original strand and one new strand. |
| DNA Polymerase | An enzyme that catalyzes the addition of nucleotides to the new DNA following the base pairing rule. |
| Central Dogma | DNA codes for RNA, which guides the synthesis of proteins. |
| RNA | A nucleic acid that contains a single strand of nucleotides, the sugar ribose, and uracil instead of thymine. |
| Transcription | The DNA code is used to make an mRNA copy. This process occurs inside the nucleus. |
| RNA Polymerase | An enzyme that regulates the synthesis of mRNA. |
| Codon | The three-base code located on the mRNA. This sequence IS used to determine the amino acid. |
| Translation | A process that uses the mRNA strand to make a protein. This occurs at ribosomes in the cytoplasm. |
| Anticodon | A three-base sequence on the tRNA that is complimentary to the codon on mRNA. This sequence is NOT used to determine the amino acid. |
| Mutation | An error that occurs in the DNA. |
| Mutagens | Environmental factors, such as radiation and certain chemicals that cause mutations. |
| Point mutation | One base is exchanged for another. This type of mutation is also referred to as a substitution. |
| Insertion mutation | Additions of a nucleotide to the DNA sequence. |
| Deletion mutation | A loss of a nucleotide within the DNA sequence. |
| Frameshift mutation | Mutations that change the multiples of three bases from the point of the insertion or deletion. |