Term | Definition |
Anticodon | The three-base sequence on the tRNA molecule that binds to the codon on the mRNA molecule during translation |
Bacteriophage | A virus that infects and replicates within bacterial cells |
Central Dogma | The doctrine that DNA codes for RNA through transcription and RNA is converted to protein through translation |
Chromosome | The structure in the nucleoid or cell nucleus that carries heredity information in the form of genes |
Codon | The three-base sequence on the mRNA that specifies a particular amino acid insertion into a polypeptide |
Comparative Genomics | The comparison of DNA sequences between organisms |
Deoxyribonucleic Acid | The genetic material of all cells and many viruses |
DNA polymerase | An enzyme that catalyzes DNA replication by combining complementary nucleotides into an existing strand |
Double Helix | The structure of DNA, in which the two complementary strands are connected by hydrogen bonds |
Exon | Any segment of a gene that is transcribed and retained in the final messenger RNA product |
Gene | A segment of a DNA molecule that provides the biochemical information for a functional product |
Gene Expression | The process by which the information in a gene is transcribed and translated into protein |
Genetic Code | The specific order of nucleotide sequences on DNA or RNA that encode specific amino acids for protein synthesis |
Genomics | The identification and study of gene sequences in an organism’s DNA |
Heredity | The passing of genetic traits from parents to offspring |
Human Endogenous Retrovirus | Virus genes that are incorporated into human chromosomes and comprise up to 10% of the human genome |
Human Genome | The complete set of genetic information in a human cell |
Human Genome Project | An international scientific research project that sequenced the human DNA in a cell, and is identifying and mapping all of the genes |
Human Microbiome | The community of microorganisms and viruses that normally resides on the surface of the skin and in the mouth, respiratory system, and gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts of the human body |
Intron | A section of noncoding DNA that is removed after transcription by splicing the mRNA transcript |
Messenger RNA | An RNA transcript containing the information for synthesizing a specific polypeptide |
Metagenome | The collective genomes from a population of organisms |
Metagenomics | The study of genes isolated directly from environmental samples |
Microbial Forensics | The discipline involved with the recognition, identification, and control of a pathogen |
Microbial Genomics | The discipline of sequencing, analyzing, and comparing microbial genomes |
Microbiome | A specific environment characterized by a distinctive microbial community and its collective genetic material |
Nucleotide | A component of a nucleic acid consisting of a carbohydrate molecule, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base |
Operon | The unit of bacterial DNA consisting of a promotor, operator, and a set of structural genes |
Promoter Site | The region of a template DNA strand or operon to which RNA polymerase binds |
Repressor Protein | A protein that, when bound to the operator, blocks transcription |
Ribonucleic Acid | The nucleic acid involved in protein synthesis and gene control |
Ribosomal RNA | An RNA transcript that forms part of the ribosomes structure |
Ribosome | A cellular component comprised of RNA and protein that participates in protein synthesis |
RNA polymerase | The enzyme that synthesizes an RNA polynucleotide from a DNA template |
Semiconservative Replication | The DNA copying process where each parent (old) strand serves as a template for a new complementary strand |
Transcription | The biochemical process in which RNA is synthesized according to a code supplied by the bases of a gene in the DNA molecule |
Transfer RNA | A molecule of RNA that unites with amino acids and transports them to the ribosome in protein synthesis |
Translation | The biochemical process in which the code on the mRNA molecule is made into a sequence of amino acids |