DNA Structure and Replication

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts related to DNA structure and replication.

Molecular Basis of Inheritance

Chapter 16 covering the molecular mechanisms of heredity.

Griffith’s Transformation Study

Experiment showing that DNA is a hereditary molecule by transforming harmless bacteria into pathogenic bacteria.

Hershey-Chase Experiment

Demonstrated that DNA, not protein, is the genetic material injected by viruses into bacteria.

DNA Structure

Single-stranded structure with a backbone of alternating phosphate and sugar, with bases sticking out.

Rosalind Franklin

Scientist who used X-ray diffraction to produce an image of DNA, leading to its 3D structure.

Watson and Crick

Determined the double-stranded structure of DNA in 1953 using Franklin's data and Chargaff’s Rules.

Base Pairing Rules

A pairs with T and G pairs with C in the DNA structure.

Anti-parallel Strands

DNA strands run in opposite directions; one strand runs 5' to 3', the other 3' to 5'.

Semi-Conservative Replication

Each daughter DNA molecule consists of one old strand and one newly synthesized strand.

Origins of Replication

Locations where DNA strands are separated to initiate replication, forming replication bubbles.

DNA Primer

A short RNA fragment that begins the DNA replication process.

DNA Polymerase

Enzyme that adds nucleotides to the growing DNA strand from the primer.

Ligase

Enzyme that joins Okazaki fragments together during DNA replication.

Leading Strand

Strand of DNA synthesized continuously in the 5' to 3' direction.

Lagging Strand

Strand of DNA synthesized in short fragments called Okazaki fragments.

Mismatch Repair

Enzymatic process that fixes incorrectly paired bases after DNA replication.

Nucleotide Excision Repair

Repair mechanism that removes damaged DNA nucleotides and replaces them correctly.