DNA Structure and Replication

Flashcards covering key concepts related to DNA, including structure, replication, and historical experiments.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that carries genetic information.

Avery-MacLeod-McCarty Experiment

A 1944 experiment that demonstrated that DNA is the substance responsible for transformation in Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Bacteriophage

A virus that infects bacteria, used in experiments by Hershey and Chase to demonstrate DNA's role in heredity.

Chargaff's Rules

In a given genome: %A = %T and %G = %C, indicating base pairing in DNA.

Okazaki Fragments

Short sequences of DNA synthesized discontinuously on the lagging strand during DNA replication.

Telomeres

Repeated sequences at the ends of chromosomes that protect them from degradation.

Semiconservative Model

The model of DNA replication where each new DNA molecule consists of one old strand and one new strand.

DNA Polymerase

An enzyme that synthesizes new DNA strands by adding nucleotides to a growing chain.

Transformation

The genetic alteration of a cell resulting from the direct uptake and incorporation of exogenous genetic material.

Telomerase

An enzyme that elongates telomeres, maintaining chromosome integrity during cell division.

What are the three proposed models of DNA replication?

The three proposed models of DNA replication are:

1. Conservative replication
2. Semi-conservative replication
3. Dispersive replication