Molecular Basis of Inheritance - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards defining core terms, numerical metrics, chemical components, and structural relationships from Botany Lecture 01 on the Molecular Basis of Inheritance.

Inheritance

The biological process by which traits or characters are passed down from parents to their offspring or progeny.

Friedrich Meischer

The scientist who, in 1869, first discovered DNA from the nuclei of white blood cells (pus-cells) and named it Nuclein.

Nuclein

The original name given by Friedrich Meischer to the nuclear material extracted from pus-cells before its acidic chemical nature was formally characterized.

Altmann

The scientist who recognized the acidic chemical nature of Nuclein and renamed it Nucleic Acid.

Nucleotide

The monomeric building block of nucleic acids, consisting of a nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar, and a phosphate group.

Phosphate Group

A functional group derived from phosphonic acid ($\text{H}_3\text{PO}_4$) that imparts a negative charge to nucleic acid molecules such as DNA and RNA.

Purines

Heterocyclic nitrogenous bases possessing a double-ring structure (9-membered ring) with nitrogen atoms at positions 1, 3, 7, and 9; includes Adenine and Guanine.

Pyrimidines

Heterocyclic nitrogenous bases possessing a single-ring structure (6-membered ring) with nitrogen atoms at positions 1 and 3; includes Cytosine, Uracil, and Thymine.

5-Methyl Uracil

The chemical name for Thymine, which contains an additional methyl group ($\text{-CH}_3$) at the 5th position relative to Uracil, conferring higher molecular stability to DNA.

Ribose Sugar

A 5-carbon pentose sugar found in RNA that possesses a hydroxyl group ($\text{-OH}$) at the 2'-carbon position, making RNA more reactive and less stable.

Deoxyribose Sugar

A 5-carbon pentose sugar found in DNA that lacks an oxygen atom at the 2'-carbon position ($\text{-H}$ instead of $\text{-OH}$), making DNA less reactive and chemically more stable.

Bacteriophage $\phi\text{-174}$

A bacterial virus featuring a single-stranded DNA genome composed of $5386\,\text{nitrogenous bases}$.

Bacteriophage Lambda ($\lambda$)

A bacterial virus featuring a double-stranded DNA genome composed of $48502\,\text{base pairs}$.

Escherichia coli (E. coli)

A bacterium whose genome consists of double-stranded DNA containing $4.6 \times 10^6\,\text{base pairs}$.

Haploid Content of Human DNA

The total nuclear genetic content contained within a single set of $23\,\text{chromosomes}$, comprising $3.3 \times 10^9\,\text{base pairs}$.

Diploid Content of Human DNA

The total nuclear genetic content within human somatic cells (46 chromosomes), comprising $6.6 \times 10^9\,\text{base pairs}$.

N-glycosidic Bond

The covalent linkage formed between a nitrogenous base and the 1'-carbon position of a pentose sugar in a nucleoside or nucleotide.