Magnet bio F24 Unit 4 vocab

Adenine

A nitrogenous base found in DNA and RNA that pairs with thymine (in DNA) and uracil (in RNA).

Anticodon

A sequence of three nucleotides in tRNA that corresponds to a complementary codon in mRNA.

Biotechnology

The use of living organisms or biological systems to develop products or technologies.

Central dogma

The process by which genetic information flows from DNA to RNA to proteins.

Chromosomal mutation

Any change in the structure or number of chromosomes, often resulting in genetic disorders.

Cloning

The process of creating genetically identical copies of a biological entity.

Codon

A sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that specifies a particular amino acid or termination signal.

Cytosine

A nitrogenous base found in DNA and RNA that pairs with guanine.

Deletion (chromosomal)

A mutation where a segment of a chromosome is lost.

Deletion (gene)

A mutation in which one or more nucleotides are removed from a gene sequence.

Deoxyribose

The sugar molecule in the backbone of DNA that lacks one oxygen atom compared to ribose.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that carries the genetic instructions in all living organisms.

DNA base pairing rules

The principle that adenine pairs with thymine and guanine pairs with cytosine in DNA.

DNA Fingerprint

A technique used to identify individuals by analyzing variations in their DNA sequences.

DNA ligase

An enzyme that joins two strands of DNA together by forming a phosphodiester bond.

DNA polymerase

An enzyme responsible for forming new copies of DNA during replication.

DNA replication

The process of making an identical copy of a DNA molecule.

DNA Sequencing

The process of determining the precise order of nucleotides in a DNA molecule.

Double helix

The structure of DNA, consisting of two strands twisted around each other like a spiral staircase.

Duplication

A chromosomal mutation where a section of a chromosome is copied and inserted into the genome.

Exon

A portion of a gene that codes for proteins and is expressed in the final mRNA transcript.

Frameshift mutation

A genetic mutation caused by insertions or deletions that shift the reading frame of the genetic code.

Gel Electrophoresis

A technique for separating molecules (like DNA or proteins) based on their size and charge.

Gene mutation

A change in the sequence of nucleotides in a gene.

Gene Therapy

A technique for correcting defective genes responsible for disease development.

Genetic Engineering

The direct manipulation of an organism's genome using biotechnology.

Genetic screening

Testing individuals for the presence of genetic disorders or traits.

Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)

An organism whose genome has been altered using genetic engineering techniques.

Genome

The complete set of genetic material in an organism.

Guanine

A nitrogenous base found in DNA and RNA that pairs with cytosine.

Helicase

An enzyme that unwinds the DNA double helix during replication.

Hydrogen bonds

Weak bonds that form between the nitrogenous bases of DNA, stabilizing the double helix structure.

Human Genome Project

A large-scale project that mapped the entire human genome.

Insertion

A mutation where one or more nucleotides are added into the DNA sequence.

Inversion

A chromosomal mutation where a section of a chromosome breaks off, flips, and reattaches in reverse order.

Introns

Non-coding sections of a gene that are removed from the RNA transcript before translation.

Lagging strand

The strand of DNA that is synthesized discontinuously during replication.

Leading strand

The strand of DNA that is synthesized continuously during replication.

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

The RNA molecule that carries the genetic information from DNA to the ribosome for protein synthesis.

Mutagen

An agent, such as radiation or a chemical substance, that causes mutations.

Mutation

A change in the DNA sequence that may lead to genetic variation or disease.

Mutagenic factors

External agents that increase the rate of mutation, such as chemicals or radiation.

Nitrogenous base

A molecule found in DNA and RNA that forms the rungs of the DNA ladder: adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine, and uracil.

Nucleotide

The basic building block of DNA and RNA, consisting of a nitrogenous base, a sugar, and a phosphate group.

Okazaki fragments

Short sequences of DNA nucleotides synthesized on the lagging strand during DNA replication.

Plasmid

A small, circular piece of DNA found in bacteria that can replicate independently of chromosomal DNA.

Point mutation

A mutation affecting only one nucleotide in a gene sequence.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

A technique used to amplify a specific DNA segment for analysis.

Polypeptide chain

A sequence of amino acids linked by peptide bonds that forms a protein.

Peptide bond

The chemical bond that links amino acids together in a protein.

Phosphodiester bond

A bond that forms the backbone of DNA and RNA by linking nucleotides together.

Protein synthesis

The process by which cells build proteins based on genetic information in mRNA.

Primary structure of protein

The sequence of amino acids in a protein.

Quaternary structure of protein

The structure formed by the interaction of multiple polypeptide chains in a protein.

Recombinant DNA

DNA that has been formed artificially by combining components from different organisms.

Replication fork

The Y-shaped structure where DNA is split into two strands for replication.

Restriction Enzymes

Enzymes that cut DNA at specific sequences, often used in genetic engineering.

Ribose

The sugar component of RNA.

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)

A type of RNA that forms part of the ribosome and helps assemble proteins.

Ribosome

A molecular machine in cells that translates mRNA into proteins.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid, a molecule essential for the coding, decoding, regulation, and expression of genes.

Secondary structure of protein

The folding of a polypeptide chain into alpha helices and beta sheets.

Semiconservative replication

A method of DNA replication where each new DNA molecule consists of one old strand and one new strand.

Silent mutation

A mutation that changes a nucleotide sequence but does not affect the protein produced.

Substitution

A type of mutation where one base is replaced by another.

Start codon

The codon (AUG) that signals the start of translation and the incorporation of methionine.

Stop codon

A codon that signals the end of translation and release of the newly formed protein.

Thymine

A nitrogenous base found in DNA that pairs with adenine.

Topoisomerase

An enzyme that prevents the over-winding of DNA ahead of the replication fork.

Transcription

The process of copying a gene's DNA sequence into mRNA.

Transgenic organism

An organism that contains genes from another species.

Transfer RNA (tRNA)

The RNA molecule that carries amino acids to the ribosome for protein assembly.

Translation

The process of converting mRNA into a protein sequence.

Translocation

A chromosomal mutation where a segment of one chromosome moves to another chromosome.

Uracil

A nitrogenous base found in RNA that pairs with adenine instead of thymine.