Advance Genetics Lecture Notes

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the lecture on advanced genetics.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, a type of nucleic acid composed of nucleotides.

Nucleotide

The basic building block of nucleic acids, composed of a base, a sugar, and a phosphate group.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid, a single-stranded nucleic acid that contains uracil instead of thymine.

Codon

A sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that codes for a specific amino acid.

Anticodon

A three-nucleotide sequence on tRNA that is complementary to an mRNA codon.

Purines

Double-ringed nitrogenous bases, specifically adenine (A) and guanine (G).

Pyrimidines

Single-ringed nitrogenous bases, specifically cytosine (C), thymine (T), and uracil (U).

Genetic Engineering

The process of manipulating an organism's DNA to alter its characteristics.

Recombinant DNA

DNA that has been artificially made by combining DNA from different organisms.

Human Genome Project

An international research initiative aimed at mapping and understanding all the genes of the human species.

mRNA

Messenger RNA, the type of RNA that carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosome. Base triplets are also called codons.

Protein synthesis

The process by which cells build proteins based on the information carried by mRNA.

Hydrogen bonds

Weak attractions between polar molecules, important for maintaining the structure of DNA.

Amino acids

Organic compounds that combine to form proteins, code determined by mRNA codons.

Stop Codon

A codon that signals the termination of protein synthesis.

Base Pairing

The specific pairing of nitrogenous bases in DNA; adenine pairs with thymine (A-T) and guanine pairs with cytosine (G-C).

DNA Analysis

Techniques used to evaluate genetic information for various applications, including forensic medicine.