Nucleic Acids

Bacteriophage

Virus that infect and replicate within bacteria

Non-histone chromosomal protein

Proteins that remain in chromatin once histone proteins have been removed

Histone

Proteins used to form nucleosomes

Nucleosome

Protein beads that provide structural support for DNA, DNA coils/wraps around

Mutation

A change in genetic information passed down over generations

Genome

All genetic information

Homologous chromosomes

Pairs of chromosomes with same genes, one from each parent

Locus

The location of a gene on a chromosome

Chromosome

Length of DNA with specific genes in a linear sequence

Allele

Different versions of the same gene

Gene

A piece of DNA that encodes for a protein, heritable factor

Phosphodiester bond

Bond between phosphate and sugar in nucleotides, formed by condensation

Types of RNA

mRNA: messenger RNA, carries genetic info to ribosomes

tRNA: transfer RNA, short length of RNA that combines with amino acids prior to protein synthesis

rRNA: ribosomal RNA, molecule that forms part of ribosome

Codon

Set of 3 nucleotides that codes for a specific amino acid

Polynucleotide

Multiple nucleotides, RNA or DNA

Pyrimadine

1 ring, Uracil, Cytosine, Thymine

Purine

2 rings, Adenine, Guanine

Condensation reaction

Bond formed, water by product

Pentose

5 carbon sugar, part of phosphate sugar backbone of nucleic acids

Uracil

Found in RNA, pyrimadine

Adenine

Both, purine, bond w thymine (2 hydrogen bond)

Thymine

DNA, pyrimidine, bond w adenine (2 hydrogen bond)

Guanine

Both, purine, bond w cytosine (3 hydrogen bond)

Cytosine

Both, pyrimidine, bond w guanine (3 hydrogen bond)

Nucleotide

Monomer of nucleic acids

RNA

Ribonucleic acid, single strand, uracil, messanger for protein synthesis

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, double helix, thymine, stores genetic info

Genetic code

Sequence of nucleotides that determines protein sequence

Nucleic acid

Store genetic information