Molecular Biology of the Gene

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and definitions related to molecular biology, particularly focusing on DNA and RNA structure, replication, and function.

Nucleotide

The basic building block of DNA and RNA, composed of a nitrogenous base, a five-carbon sugar, and a phosphate group.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that carries genetic information in cells.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid, a molecule that helps in coding, decoding, regulation, and expression of genes.

Deoxyribose

A five-carbon sugar that is part of the structure of DNA.

Ribose

A five-carbon sugar that is part of the structure of RNA.

Nitrogenous Base

A component of nucleotides that includes adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and uracil (U).

Complementary Base Pairing

The specific pairing between nitrogenous bases in DNA (A with T, C with G) and RNA (A with U, C with G).

Polynucleotide

A polymer consisting of many nucleotide monomers linked together.

Sugar-Phosphate Backbone

The structure formed by sugar and phosphate groups linked by covalent bonds in DNA and RNA.

Double Helix

The twisted ladder shape of DNA, consisting of two strands of nucleotides coiled around each other.

DNA Replication

The process by which DNA makes a copy of itself during cell division.

DNA Polymerase

An enzyme that synthesizes new strands of DNA complementary to the template strand.

Semiconservative Model

The model of DNA replication in which each new DNA double helix consists of one old strand and one new strand.

DNA Ligase

An enzyme that connects short fragments of DNA together during replication.

Uracil (U)

A nitrogenous base found in RNA that replaces thymine (T) found in DNA.