DNA - The Double Helix (FINAL)

Nucleus

Small, spherical, dense body in a cell. “Control center” controls all cell activities, including cell reproduction and heredity.

DNA

Short for deoxyribonucleic acid. It is a code for the production of proteins within the cell and controls all chemical processes within the cell. It also is the chemical that genes and chromosomes are made of. Molecule of repeating nucleotides.

Gene

A segment of DNA that codes for a particular protein, which in turn codes for a trait. Made of DNA

James Watson and Francis Crick

Establish the structure of DNA.

Double Helix

Structure of DNA, which is described as a twisted ladder.

Deoxyribose

Sugar

Purines

Adenine and guanine

Pyrimides

Thymine and cytosine

Base-Pair rule

The bases will always bond in a certain way.

Nucleotide

The combination of a single base, a deoxyribose sugar, and a phosphate.

Messenger RNA

A chemical that is used to read the DNA in the nucleus. It is small enough to go through the nuclear pores.

Ribosomes

An intracellular structure made of both RNA and protein, and it is the site of protein synthesis in the cell.

Proteins

The body’s building blocks are amino acids joined into a long chain.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid

Replication

The process of copying DNA. Semi-conservative.

Chromosomes

Found in the nucleus. They are thread-like microscopic strands composed of chemical DNA.

Uracil

Replaces Thymine in mRNA

Hydrogen Bonds

Hold together (loosely) the two sides of the ladder.

Blueprint

Tells the cell how to build an organism.

Codon

Three bases for encoding a particular amino acid or signaling the termination of protein synthesis

Amino acid

An organic chemical. When linked together, they form proteins, which make up any structure of the body.

Monometer of DNA

Nucleotide

Backbone of DNA/sides of the ladder

Deoxyribose and phosphate groups. Their colors are green and yellow.

Ase

Enzymes which are proteins important to metabolic processes.