metabolism terms+genetics

Vocabulary flashcards covering metabolism, energy production, DNA, transcription/translation, and mutations from the lecture notes.

Metabolism

Sum of all chemical reactions in the body.

Cellular metabolism

Sum of all chemical reactions occurring in a cell; reactions usually occur in pathways or cycles.

Anabolism

Processes that build up materials for maintenance, growth, and repair; requires ATP; example: muscle growth.

Catabolism

Processes that break down larger molecules into smaller ones; ATP is produced; example: hydrolysis.

Monosaccharide

A single sugar unit (e.g., glucose, fructose).

Disaccharide

A compound formed from two monosaccharides linked together (e.g., sucrose).

Polysaccharide

A large carbohydrate formed by many monosaccharide units; energy storage or structural role.

Enzymes

Protein catalysts that speed up chemical reactions; not consumed; highly specific to substrates.

Activation energy

Energy required to start a reaction; enzymes lower this energy barrier.

Active site

Region of an enzyme where the substrate binds.

Substrate

Molecule that binds to an enzyme to undergo a chemical reaction.

Lipase

Enzyme that breaks down lipids (fats).

Denaturation

Irreversible change in a protein’s conformation causing loss of function; can be caused by heat, pH, radiation, chemicals.

Cellular respiration

Process that transfers energy from molecules for cellular use; includes glycolysis, citric acid cycle, and electron transport chain.

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

Energy-carrying molecule; when ATP loses a terminal phosphate, it becomes ADP + Pi.

Anaerobic respiration

Respiration without oxygen; in animals, produces lactic acid and a small amount of ATP.

Lactic acid

Product of anaerobic metabolism; can inhibit energy production in muscles when oxygen is scarce.

Oxygen debt

The amount of oxygen required after exercise to restore the cell's conditions; pay back prior anaerobic activity.

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

Genetic material that stores information for protein synthesis.

Gene

DNA sequence that contains the information to make one protein.

Genome

Complete set of genetic information in a cell.

Gene expression

Control of which proteins are produced in a cell, and in what amounts.

Double helix

Two DNA strands wound into a spiral; the structural form of DNA.

Nucleotide

Building block of DNA consisting of a sugar (deoxyribose), a phosphate, and a nitrogenous base.

Hydrogen bonds

Bonds between complementary bases (A–T, C–G) that hold the DNA strands together.

Antiparallel

Two DNA strands run in opposite directions.

Complementary base pairing

A pairs with T, and C pairs with G.

Histone

Protein around which DNA wraps to form chromatin and chromosomes.

Chromatin

DNA-histone complex that condenses to form chromosomes.

Chromosome

Condensed structure of DNA and proteins carrying genetic information.

DNA replication

Process by which a cell makes an identical copy of its DNA; occurs during interphase.

Central Dogma

Flow of genetic information: DNA is transcribed into RNA, which is translated into protein.

Transcription

Process of copying a DNA sequence into an RNA sequence; occurs in nucleus.

RNA polymerase

Enzyme that synthesizes RNA from a DNA template during transcription.

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

RNA that carries genetic code from DNA to the ribosome for protein synthesis.

Translation

Process of converting the mRNA code into a sequence of amino acids to form a protein.

Transfer RNA (tRNA)

RNA that brings amino acids to the ribosome; contains an anticodon.

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)

RNA component of ribosomes, essential for protein synthesis.

Codon

Three-base sequence on mRNA that codes for a specific amino acid.

Anticodon

Three-base sequence on tRNA that pairs with a corresponding mRNA codon.

Initiation codon

AUG; codes for Methionine and signals the start of a protein.

Stop codon

Three codons that signal termination of translation; no tRNA matches them.

Mutations

Changes in the DNA sequence due to replication errors or damage.

Diploid

Having two copies of each chromosome; provides genetic redundancy in case of mutation.