Biology - Finals Vocab

Amino Acid

Monomer (building block) for making proteins, held together by peptide bonds

Anti - Codon

"Complementary" 3 nucleotides on tRNA

Translation

Interpreting the RNA message into a polypeptide to make a protein

Codon

A set of 3 nucleotides on the mRNA

Genetic Code

Code of instructions for how to make proteins

Transcription

DNA is copied into a complementary strand of mRNA

Protein Synthesis

The process of reading the instructions in DNA to make a polypeptide

Polypeptide

A chain of amino acids; can bind to others and fold into a protein

Chromosome

Tightly coiled strands of DNA

Gene

A section of DNA that has instructions to code for a protein

Nucleotides

Make up nucleic acids (the monomer)

Nucleic Acids

The macromolecule that hods our genetic material (DNA)

Epigenetics

The study of changes in gene expression that are heritable

Diploid

2 full sets of chormosomes

Haploid

1 full set of chromosomes

Karotype

A diagram that shows the number and visual appearance of the chromosomes in a cell

Meiosis

The process of cell division that makes gametes in the gonads

Sexual Reproduction

Organisms that reproduce sexually (like humans) fuse the genetic information (gametes) from two parents to produce offspring that are a genetic mixture of both parents

Fertilisation

The actual fusion of egg and sperm to form a zygote

Homologus chromosomes

Chromosome pairs that have the same types of genes

Sister Chromatids

2 identical copies of the same chromosome

Somatic Cells

Body cells, diploid

Gametes

Sex cells, Haploid

Autosomes

The 1st 22 pairs of chromosomes

Sex Chromosomes

The 23rd pair of chromosomes

Tetrad

Cluster of 4 chromatids

Alleles

Different versions of the same gene

Homozygous

2 of the same alleles

Heterozygous

2 different alleles

Genotype

The actual alleles inherited

Punnett Square

A diagram that shows the probability of inheriting traits from parents with certain genes

Monohybrid cross

A cross between two organisms looking at one trait

Chromosome theory of inheritance

Genes are located on the chromosomes and the behaviour of chromosomes during meiosis accounts for inheritance patterns

Epistasis

When one gene overshadows all of the others

Genes

Section of DNA that provides the instructions for making a protein

Homologous Chromosomes

The matching chromosomes from our mum and dad

Dominant

If present, allele will always have that trait expressed (seen)

Recessive

Allele will only have that trait expressed (seen) when the dominant allele is NOT present

Phenotype

The physical traits/characteristics seen in an organism

Dihybrid cross

Cross involving two traits at the same time

Carrier

Someone who carries the recessive trait, but doesn't show it due to having a dominant X to mask it

Biotechnology

Refers to any technology used to change the genetic makeup of living things to make products

Genetic Engineering

The direct manipulation of an organism's genome using biotechnology

Recombinant DNA

Artificially made DNA from 2 or more different sources

Genome

An organism's complete set of DNA; all of its genes

Gene Map

Show the location of genes on a chromosome

Restiction enzymes

Used to cut strands of DNA at specific locations

Polymerase Chain Reaction

A technique that allows you to copy a piece of DNA without a cell

Gel electrophoresis

A laboratory method that uses an electric current to separate DNA fragments based on their molecular size

Gene cloning

Produces multiple identical copies of a gene

Transformation

The process of inserting recombinant DNA into host cells

Gene Therapy

Inserting a normal gene (or editing an existing gene) to fix an absent or abnormal gene

CRISPR

A gene editing technique that helps us to understand the genetics behind many diseases

Stem cells

Undifferentiated cells that hace potential to become anything

Selective breeding

Artificially breeding organisms with a desired trait

Pharming

Producing pharmaceuticals in farm animals or plants

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)

Organisms altered by recombinant DNA technology for desired traits

Inbreeding

Crossing individuals that are closely related

Hybridisation

A type of selective breeding between unrelated organisms

Evolution

The process of biological change in populations over time that makes descendants genetically different from their ancestors

Microevolution

Evolution can occur on a small scale affecting a single population

Macroevolution

Evolution on a large scale affecting changes in species across population

Natural Selection

Organisms with the "best" traits (adaptations) will live longer and reproduce more than others, causing changes in the population over time by acting on traits that are heritable

Fitness

A measure of how well you can survive in your environment

Adaptation

A feature that allows an organism to better survive in its environment

Gene Pool

The combined alleles of all individuals in a population

Genetic Drift

Random change in the frequency of alleles in a population over time

Sexual Selection

The selection of traits that aren't necessarily good for survival fitness, but without them, you can't pass on your genes at all because you can't reproduce

Genetic Equilibrium

When there are NO changes in the allele frequencies in a population over time

Gene Flow

Movement of genes into/out of a population

Morphology

Study of the form of living things

Endemic Species

Species that exist only in one geographic region

Pseudogens

Nonfunctional genes

Binomial nomenclature

2-name naming system, Genus species

Phylogeny

Evolutionary history of a species

Endosymbiosis

One prokaryote ended up inside of another and both organisms thrived

Phylogenetic tree

A diagram used to predict evolutionary relationships among groups of organisms

Maximum Parsimony

Use the simplest explanation for creating the tree

Paleontology

Study of prehistoric life through the fossil record

Biogeography

Study of the geographic distribution of plants and animals

Embryology

Study of embryo development

Biochemistry

Study of chemical processes in living things

Fossils

Preserved remains of organisms

Taxonomy

Field of biology that classifies organisms, organizing them based on similar characteristics

Ecology

The study of relationships between two organisms and between an organism and its environment

Metabolism

All of the chemical reactions of each cell in an organism provide energy for life's processes and create key molecules

Organism

Individual member of a species or population

Population

Multiple organisms of the same species living together

Community

Multiple populations of different spiecies living together

Ecosystem

Community PLUS all of the abiotic factors in the environment

Biome

Multiple ecosystems that share similar characteristics but are located in different parts of the planet

Biosphere

The zone of life on Earth, encompassing all of Earth's ecosystems

Biodiversity

The variety of organisms considered at all levels, from populations to ecosystem

Cladogram

Diagram that shows relatedness of organisms

Dichotomous Key

Tool used for identifying organisms based on their characteristics

Precipitation

Water Cycle

Water falls to Earth as a liquid

Infiltration

Water Cycle

Some water seeps underground from the surface of the Earth

Runoff

Water cycle

Liquid water that isn't infiltrated runs along the surface and collects in bodies of water

Evaporation

Water Cycle

Sun heats liquid water to vapour and it rises into the atmosphere

Transpiration

Water Cycle

Water rises back into the atmosphere as water vapor from plants