Vocab chp 15

Operator

A DNA region in prokaryotic operons that controls the access of RNA polymerase to genes.

Operon

A cluster of genes in prokaryotes that are regulated together, typically involved in a related function.

Repressor

A protein that binds to the operator and blocks transcription.

Regulatory Gene

A gene that produces a repressor or activator to regulate the expression of another gene.

Corepressor

A molecule that binds to a repressor, enhancing its ability to inhibit transcription.

Inducer

A molecule that binds to a repressor, preventing it from binding to the operator and allowing gene transcription.

Activator

A protein that increases the transcription of a gene by binding to its regulatory region.

Differential Gene Expression

The process by which different genes are expressed in different cells, leading to cell differentiation.

Histone Acetylation

The addition of acetyl groups to histones, relaxing chromatin and increasing gene expression.

DNA Methylation

The addition of methyl groups to DNA, typically silencing gene expression.

Epigenetic Inheritance

The transmission of gene expression patterns through generations without changes in the underlying DNA sequence.

Control Elements

DNA sequences that regulate gene expression by interacting with transcription factors.

Enhancers

DNA sequences that increase the rate of transcription by attracting transcription factors.

Alternative RNA Splicing

A process by which different combinations of exons are spliced together, allowing one gene to produce multiple mRNA variants.

microRNAs (miRNA)

Small RNA molecules that regulate gene expression by binding to mRNA and preventing its translation.

Small Interfering RNAs (siRNA)

Small RNA molecules that promote the degradation of mRNA or inhibit its translation.

Nucleic Acid Hybridization

The process of combining complementary strands of nucleic acids.

Nucleic Acid Probe

A labeled single-stranded nucleic acid used to detect complementary sequences in DNA or RNA.

In Situ Hybridization

A technique used to detect specific nucleic acid sequences within cells or tissues.

Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)

A technique that converts RNA into complementary DNA (cDNA) and amplifies it to study gene expression.

Complementary DNA (cDNA)

DNA synthesized from an RNA template by reverse transcription.

DNA Microarray Assays

A technique used to measure the expression of many genes simultaneously.

Model Organisms

Organisms that are used to study biological processes and that are easily manipulated in laboratory settings.

Differentiation

The process by which cells become specialized in structure and function.

Morphogenesis

The process by which cells and tissues develop into specific structures during embryonic development.

Homeotic Genes

Genes that control the development of body structures in specific regions of the embryo.

Stem Cells

Undifferentiated cells capable of differentiating into various specialized cell types.

Totipotent

Stem cells that have the potential to differentiate into any cell type, including the entire organism.

Pluripotent

Stem cells that can differentiate into any cell type but cannot form an entire organism.

Virus

A microscopic infectious agent that requires a host cell to replicate.

Capsid

The protein shell of a virus that encases its genetic material.

Viral Envelope

A lipid bilayer membrane that surrounds some viruses, derived from the host cell membrane.

Phages

Viruses that infect bacteria.

Lytic Cycle

A viral replication cycle in which the host cell is destroyed after virus production.

Virulent Phage

A phage that only follows the lytic cycle and kills the host cell.

Lysogenic Cycle

A viral replication cycle where the virus integrates into the host's genome and can remain dormant.

Prophage

A phage genome integrated into the bacterial host genome during the lysogenic cycle.

Restriction Enzymes

Proteins that cut DNA at specific sequences, used by bacteria as a defense mechanism against viruses.

Retroviruses

Viruses that use reverse transcriptase to convert their RNA genome into DNA.

Reverse Transcriptase

An enzyme used by retroviruses to synthesize DNA from RNA.

Genomics

The study of the structure, function, evolution, and mapping of genomes.

Bioinformatics

The use of computational tools to analyze and interpret biological data, especially genomic data.

Transposable Elements

DNA sequences that can move or 'transpose' to different locations within the genome.

Short Tandem Repeats (STR)

Repeated sequences of 2-6 base pairs of DNA used in DNA profiling.

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs)

Variations at a single nucleotide position in DNA among individuals.

Homeobox

A DNA sequence found in many genes involved in regulating development, particularly in controlling body plan formation.