DNA, RNA, and Protein Synthesis Flashcards

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from lecture notes on DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis.

Transformation (Griffith's experiment)

A process where genetic information contained in DNA can change under certain conditions.

Nucleic Acids

The material that makes up DNA; stores genetic information.

Bacteriophages

A virus that infects bacteria; used to determine that DNA transmits genetic information.

Nucleotides

Long molecules in each cell that make up DNA (approximately 2 meters long in human cells).

Base-pairing principle

Bonds in DNA can form only between adenine (A) and thymine (T), and between cytosine (C) and guanine (G).

Chromatin

Condensed form of DNA, packed into chromosomes.

Histones

Proteins that chromatin wraps around in chromosomes.

DNA Replication

The process by which parent DNA strands are unzipped, copied by DNA polymerase, and rezips, creating an exact copy in the nucleus.

Topoisomerase

Enzyme involved in DNA replication.

Helicase

Enzyme involved in unzipping the parent DNA strand.

DNA Polymerase III

Enzyme involved in copying DNA.

Leading Strand

Strand synthesized continuously during DNA replication.

Lagging Strand

Strand synthesized discontinuously during DNA replication.

DNA Polymerase I

Enzyme involved in proofreading and DNA repair during DNA replication

Genes

Coded DNA instructions that control the production of proteins within the cell.

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

RNA molecules that carry copies of instructions for protein synthesis from DNA to ribosomes.

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)

Type of RNA that makes up the major part of ribosomes.

Transfer RNA (tRNA)

Type of RNA molecule that transfers amino acids to ribosomes during protein synthesis.

Transcription

A process in which part of the nucleotide sequence of DNA is copied into a complementary sequence in RNA.

Promoter

Region of DNA that indicates to an enzyme where to bind to make RNA.

Intron

Non-coding DNA sequences of eukaryotic genes.

Exon

DNA sequences that code for proteins.

Codon

A three-nucleotide sequence on messenger RNA that codes for a single amino acid.

Translation

The decoding of an mRNA message into a polypeptide chain (protein).

Anticodon

A group of three bases on a tRNA molecule that are complementary to an mRNA codon.

RNA Polymerase

Enzyme that binds to DNA and separates the DNA strands during transcription, assembling a strand of RNA.

Point Mutation

Changes to one or a few nucleotides at a single point on a DNA chain; a simple copying mistake.

Frameshift Mutation

Mutation that shifts the starting point of translation, resulting in incorrect protein construction.

Chromosomal Mutation

Changes to the number or structure of chromosomes, causing significant changes to organisms.

Gene Regulation

The control mechanisms that activate or repress genes, influencing the expression of traits.

Mutation

Changes in genetic material.

Histone

Protein molecule around which DNA is tightly coiled in chromatin.

DNA polymerase

Enzyme involved in DNA replication that joins individual nucleotides to produce a DNA molecule.

Polyploidy

Condition in which an organism has extra sets of chromosomes

Operon

A group of genes that operate together.

Operator

Region of DNA to which a repressor protein binds to prevent transcription of an operon.

Differentiation

Process in which cells become specialized in structure and function.

Hox Gene

Series of genes that controls the differentiation of cells and tissues in an embryo.