Bio 1001 Chapters 4-6

Chromosomes

a long, thread-like structure made of DNA and proteins that carries genetic information 

Deoxyribose

a five-carbon sugar molecule with a hydrogen atom rather than a hydroxyl group in the 2′ position; the sugar component of DNA nucleotides

DNA

deoxyribonucleic acid, is the molecule that stores genetic information in living organisms, encoding the instructions needed for growth, development, and reproduction

Double Helix

the molecular shape of DNA in which two strands of nucleotides wind around each other in a spiral shape

Genome

the complete set of genetic material, including all of an organism’s DNA

Histone

proteins that help organize and package DNA into structural units called nucleosomes

Nitrogenous Base

a nitrogen-containing molecule that acts as a base; often referring to one of the purine or pyrimidine components of nucleic acids

Nucleotides

building blocks of DNA; consists of a a deoxyribose, a phosphate group and a nitrogenous base

Nucleosomes

the basic unit of DNA packaging in eukaryotic cells, consisting of a segment of DNA wrapped around a core of histone proteins

Phosphate group

a molecular group consisting of a central phosphorus atom bound to four oxygen atoms

RNA

ribonucleic acid, is a molecule that plays a crucial role in coding, decoding, regulation, and expression of genes, often acting as a messenger between DNA and protein synthesis

Base pairing rules

The principle that adenine (A) pairs with thymine (T), and cytosine (C) pairs with guanine (G), discovered by Erwin Chargaff.

Double Helix

The twisted-ladder shape of DNA, with paired bases forming the rungs.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

A technique that amplifies specific DNA sequences for analysis or use in biotechnology

Primers

short strand of nucleic acid that binds to a specific sequence on a DNA or RNA template to initiate synthesis

DNA polymerase

the enzyme responsible for creating new DNA strands

DNA Replication

the process by which a cell copies its DNA, producing two identical DNA molecules, each containing one original and one newly synthesized strand