Term | Definition |
RNA | a nucleic acid that contains ribose, involved in protein synthesis |
messenger RNA | a type of RNA that carries copies of instructions for the assembly of amino acids |
ribosomal RNA | a type of RNA that combines with proteins to form ribosomes |
transfer RNA | a type of RNA that carries each amino acid to a ribosome during protein synthesis |
RNA polymerase | enzyme that links together the growing chain of RNA nucleotides during transcription using a DNA template |
promoter | specific region of a gene where RNA polymerase can bind and begin transcription |
intron | a sequence of DNA that is not involved in coding for a protein because it is cut out of the mRNA strand |
exon | a sequence of DNA that is involved in coding for a protein; pieces that are spliced together to form mRNA |
polypeptide | long chains of amino acids; another name for proteins |
genetic code | a collection of codons of mRNA that determine which amino acids are joined together to form a protein |
codon | a group of three mRNA bases that specify a particular amino acid |
translation | process by which the sequence of bases of mRNA is converted into the sequence of amino acids |
transcription | synthesis of an mRNA molecule from a DNA template |
anticodon | a group of three bases on a tRNA molecule that are complementary to the three bases of a codon of mRNA |
gene expression | process by which a gene produces its product and the product carries out its function |
mutation | a change in the genetic material of the cell |
point mutation | gene mutation in which a single base pair in DNA has been changed |
frameshift mutation | a mutation that shifts the "reading frame" of the genetic message by inserting or deleting a nucleotide |
mutagen | chemical or physical agents in the environment that interact with DNA and may cause a mutation |
polyploidy | condition in which an organism has extra sets of chromosomes |