Molecular Basis of Inheritance and Protein Synthesis

Vocabulary flashcards covering the molecular basis of inheritance, DNA replication, and protein synthesis concepts.

DNA

The molecule established as the genetic material of inheritance, rather than protein.

Guanine and adenine

Two double-ring bases that cannot pair up together in a DNA double helix.

DNA double helix

A molecular structure that can serve as a template for making a copy of itself.

DNA replication

The cellular copying process that is not perfectly accurate, resulting in errors that cells must repair.

DNA replication errors

Replication inaccuracies repaired by cellular mechanisms, with significance attached to the fact that not all of them are repaired.

Telomere

A cellular structure that is significant in a cell's life history.

Transcription

A process in protein synthesis whose product molecule undergoes processing before becoming an mRNA.

mRNA

The mature molecule formed after the product molecule of transcription is modified.

Introns and exons

Sequence components involved in mRNA formation and alternative gene splicing during protein synthesis.

Alternative gene splicing

A molecular splicing process involving introns and exons during the maturation of the product molecule of transcription into mRNA.

Translation

A primary stage of protein synthesis that requires exactly $5$ specific things to occur.

Codon

A sequence unit within the genetic code, such as AUG, UCG, or GAC, that specifies amino acid sequences or pairs with an anticodon.

Redundancy of the genetic code

The specific characteristic and property describing the genetic code as redundant.

AUG UCG GGC

A specific set of codons that produces a $3$ amino acid sequence.

Ribosome

A cellular structure that functions in protein synthesis and translation.

tRNA

A transfer RNA molecule involved in translation that possesses $2$ active sites.

Anticodon

A complementary triplet sequence that pairs with a specific codon, such as GAC.

GAC

A specific codon that corresponds to a complementary anticodon during translation.

Silent mutation

A type of mutation in protein synthesis differentiated from missense and nonsense mutations.

Missense mutation

A type of mutation in protein synthesis differentiated from silent and nonsense mutations.

Nonsense mutation

A distinct type of mutation in protein synthesis that can occur in $2$ specific ways.

Frameshift mutation

A specific category of mutation that alters genetic sequences during protein synthesis.

Gene

The fundamental unit of inheritance that undergoes alternative gene splicing and directs protein synthesis.