life science chapter 3

nucleotide

The subunit of DNA consisting of a sugar, a phosphate, and a base.

gene

A section of DNA molecule that codes for a unique protein.

transcription

The process that a cell uses to make RNA copies of a gene.

ribonucleic acid

A type of nucleic acid similar to DNA whose structure is based in a gene

translation

The process of converting the DNA code into a protein.

codon

A set of three nucleotides in a strand of mRNA that codes for one of the amino acids.

amino acid

One of about twenty molecules used to build protein.

anticodon

A set of three nucleotides in tRNA that match a codon on mRNA

protein synthesis

The process of building a protein by bonding amino acids together.

engineered system

A group of things that are planned, designed, and built to work together to do a certain job.

irreducible complexity

A feature of an engineered system in which removing one part of the system causes the whole system to cease functioning.

cell cycle

The processes of cellular growth and reproduction.

interphase

The portion of the cell cycle during which the cell and carries out it’s normal functions.

replication

The DNA copying process

mitosis

The process of the cell that ensures that each new daughter cell has the same number and kind of genes as the original parent cell.

cytokinesis

The final stage of the cell cycle during which the parent cell pinches to give each new daughter cell some cytoplasm.

asexual reproduction

reproduction that does not involve gamates.

gamete

A sperm cell or an egg cell

sexual reproduction

A type of reproduction in which a sperm unites with an egg to form a zygote

meiosis

The process that reduces by half the amount of DNA present in each sperm or egg cell.

homologous chromosomes

Matching pairs of chromosomes in a diploid cell.

fertleization

The joining of gametes to form a diploid cell.

zygote

The diploid cell that results from fertilization.