magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue; allows us to see structures within the brain
somatic cells
Any cells in the body other than reproductive cells
Mitosis
part of eukaryotic cell division during which the cell nucleus divides
Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid (DNA)
the material that contains the information that determines inherited characteristics
Chromosomes
threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes
homologous chromosomes
Chromosomes that have the same sequence of genes and the same structure
Chromatid
one of two identical "sister" parts of a duplicated chromosome
Centromere
Area where the chromatids of a chromosome are attached
tumor
mass of rapidly dividing cells that can damage surrounding tissue
benign tumor
An abnormal mass of cells that remains at its original site in the body.
malignant tumor
A cancerous tumor that is invasive enough to impair the functions of one or more organs.
Cancer
any malignant growth or tumor caused by abnormal and uncontrolled cell division
biopsy
the removal of living tissue from the body for diagnostic examination
pathologist
specialist in the study of disease
Basel cell carcinoma
Most common and least severe type of skin cancer; often characterized by light or pearly nodules.
Interphase
Cell grows, performs its normal functions, and prepares for division; consists of G1, S, and G2 phases
Prophase
Chromosomes become visible, nuclear envelop dissolves, spindle forms
Metaphase
second phase of mitosis, during which the chromosomes line up across the center of the cell
Telophase
the final phase of cell division, between anaphase and interphase, in which the chromatids or chromosomes move to opposite ends of the cell and two nuclei are formed.
Cytokinesis
Division of the cytoplasm during cell division
Anaphase
Phase of mitosis in which the chromosomes separate and move to opposite ends of the cell
cell cycle
The regular sequence of growth and division that cells undergo
daughter cells
the two new cells that result from mitosis and cytokinesis
parent cell
original cell before cell division
Genes
DNA segments that serve as the key functional units in hereditary transmission.
Mutation
a random error in gene replication that leads to a change
Protein
An organic compound that is made of one or more chains of amino acids and that is a principal component of all cells
protein synthesis
the formation of proteins by using information contained in DNA and carried by mRNA
Nucleotides in DNA
Adenine, Thymine, Guanine, Cytosine
nucleotides in RNA contain
The sugar ribose
A phosphate group
3.Rna contains uracil instead of thymine. So Adenine and uracil. Guanine and cytosine.
Ribose Nucleic Acid (RNA)
A nucleic acid containing ribose as the sugar component which helps direct protein synthesis
Transcription
(genetics) the organic process whereby the DNA sequence in a gene is copied into mRNA
Translation
Process by which mRNA is decoded and a protein is produced
mRNA (messenger RNA)
a single-stranded RNA molecule that encodes the information to make a protein
tRNA (transfer RNA)
type of RNA molecule that transfers amino acids to ribosomes during protein synthesis
Codon
A specific sequence of three adjacent bases on a strand of DNA or RNA that provides genetic code information for a particular amino acid
Anticodon
group of three bases on a tRNA molecule that are complementary to an mRNA codon
Substitution
A mutation in which a nucleotide or a codon in DNA is replaced with a different nucleotide
Insertion
A mutation involving the addition of one or more nucleotide pairs to a gene.
Deletion
A change to a chromosome in which a fragment of the chromosome is removed.
Genome
the complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism's chromosomes
prognosis
a forecast of the probable course and outcome of a disease or situation
geneticist
a specialist in the field of genetics
Genotype
An organism's genetic makeup, or allele combinations.
Phenotype
the set of observable characteristics of an individual resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment.
Alleles
different versions of a gene
dominant allele/trait
An allele whose trait always shows up in the organism when the allele is present.
Recessive allele/trait
An allele or trait that is masked when a dominant allele/trait is present
Homozygous
An organism that has two identical alleles for a trait
Heterozygous
An organism that has two different alleles for a trait
Pedigree
A diagram that shows the occurrence of a genetic trait in several generations of a family.
Autosomes
Any chromosome that is not a sex chromosome
sex chromosomes
One of the 23 pairs of chromosomes in the human, contains genes that will determine the sex of the individual.
autosomal dominant
inheritance pattern of a dominant allele on an autosome
autosomal recessive
inheritance pattern of a recessive allele on an autosome
Punnett Square
A chart that shows all the possible combinations of alleles that can result from a genetic cross