Central Dogma, Gene Expression, and Molecular Genetics Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering the Central Dogma, gene expression, nucleic acid structure, transcription, translation, and genetic organization.

Central Dogma of Biology

The framework describing the flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA via transcription, and from RNA to protein via translation.

Phenotype

The structural, physiological, and behavioral traits of an organism, expressed at both molecular and organismal levels.

Genotype

The genetic makeup of an organism that contains the information needed to synthesize RNA and proteins.

Evolution

Descent with modification, requiring trait variability, heritability, and differential reproductive success across generations.

Gene Expression

The process by which genetic information stored in DNA is utilized to make functional proteins.

Transcription

The process in which RNA Polymerase creates an RNA copy complementary to one strand of DNA.

tRNA Charging

The cytoplasmic process in which aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRS) enzymes match and join specific amino acids to their corresponding tRNAs.

Translation

The process in which a ribosome synthesizes a protein by matching tRNAs to an mRNA sequence and linking amino acids into a polypeptide chain.

Replication

The copying of DNA to DNA carried out by the enzyme DNA Polymerase.

Nucleotide

The basic building block of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), composed of a phosphate group, a sugar, and one of five nitrogenous bases.

Chargaff's Rule

The base-pairing principle stating that Adenine pairs with Thymine ($A::T$) and Guanine pairs with Cytosine ($G::C$) via hydrogen bonds in DNA.

Antiparallel

The arrangement of the two complementary strands in a DNA double helix running in opposite directionality ($5' \rightarrow 3'$ and $3' \rightarrow 5'$).

Genome

The complete set of genetic material (DNA) present in an organism.

Chromosome

A packaged structure containing genetic material, referring either to a single strand of DNA or two replicated strands joined by a centromere.

Karyotype

A visual picture of the complete set of chromosomes belonging to a eukaryotic organism or species.

Plasmid

A small circular DNA molecule found in prokaryotes separate from the main circular chromosome.

Prokaryote

A single-celled organism (such as bacteria or archaea) lacking a nucleus, typically possessing one large circular supercoiled chromosome and smaller plasmids in the cytoplasm.

Eukaryote

A single-celled or multicellular organism whose cells contain a nucleus enclosing a variable number of linear chromosomes.

Amino Acid

One of 20 organic building block molecules joined together in long chains by peptide bonds to form proteins.

Peptide Bond

The covalent chemical bond linking individual amino acids together within a polypeptide chain.

Promoter

A short sequence of DNA preceding the coding portion of a gene where RNA Polymerase binds to begin transcription.

Enhancer

A short sequence of DNA where specific transcription factor proteins bind to regulate gene expression.

Transcription Factors

Regulatory proteins that bind to enhancer DNA sequences to control when, where, and how much a gene is expressed.

Terminator

A specific DNA sequence at the end of a gene that signals RNA Polymerase to dissociate and end transcription.

Template Strand

The $3' \rightarrow 5'$ strand of DNA read by RNA Polymerase to assemble a complementary RNA sequence during elongation.

Coding Strand

The $5' \rightarrow 3'$ strand of DNA that matches the nucleotide sequence of the synthesized RNA strand, except that Thymine is present instead of Uracil.

Codon

A set of three adjacent nucleotides in mRNA that specifies a particular amino acid or translation start/stop instruction.

Anticodon

A three-nucleotide sequence on a tRNA molecule that complementary base-pairs with a corresponding codon on an mRNA strand.

Reading Frame

A continuous series of non-overlapping, 3-base-long nucleotide sequences established by the START codon ($AUG$) during translation initiation.

Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetase (aaRS)

An enzyme responsible for attaching a specific amino acid to its corresponding tRNA during tRNA charging.