Term | Definition |
adenine | pairs with thymine; a nitrogen-containing base that is a component of a nucleotide |
anticodon | a region of tRNA consisting of three bases complementary to the codon of mRNA |
base-pairing rule | the rule stating that in DNA, cytosine pairs with guanine and adenine pairs with thymine and in RNA, adenine pairs with uracil |
codon | a group of three sequential nitrogen bases of an mRNA molecule |
complementary base pair | normal pairing of DNA nucleotides (adenine-thymine; guanine-cytosine) |
cytosine | pairs with guanine; a nitrogen-containing base that is a component of a nucleotide |
deoxyribose | sugar molecule of of a DNA nucleotide; one of 3 parts |
double helix | shape of DNA; two nucleotide chains that wrap around each other |
genetic code | triplets of nucleotides in mRNA that determine the sequence of amino acids in protein |
guanine | pairs with cytosine; a nitrogen-containing base that is a component of a nucleotide |
messenger RNA (mRNA) | the type of RNA that carries genetic information from the nucleus to the ribosomes |
mutation | a change in DNA |
nitrogen-containing base | a DNA nucleotide containing nitrogen, a sugar molecule, and a phosphate group |
protein synthesis | formation of proteins using the information coded on DNA and carried by RNA |
replication | process by which DNA copies itself during interphase |
ribose | five-carbon sugar in RNA |
ribosomal RNA (mRNA) | type of RNA found in a ribosome |
start codon | codon AUG which engages a ribosome to start translating an mRNA molecule |
stop codon | causes the ribosome to stop translating mRNA; UAA, UAG, UGA |
thymine | airs with adenine; a nitrogen-containing base that is a component of a nucleotide |
transcription | process in which RNA is made from DNA |
transfer RNA (tRNA) | type of RNA that carries amino acids from the cytoplasm to the ribosomes |
translation | process of converting the genetic code in RNA into the amino acid sequence that makes up a protein |
uracil | pairs with adenine; a nitrogen-containing base found in RNA |