BIO 183- Cellular and Molecular Biology

Created for BIO 183 at NC State

Cell

Smallest fundamental unit of life

Molecule

Group of 2 or more atoms held together via chemical bonds, the smallest unit of a substance that still has the characteristics of that substance

Hypothesis

Proposed explanation for a natural phenomenon or observation that is to be tested during an experiment

Theory

An explanation of a natural phenomenon that has been supported by many experiments over a long period of time ex. thermodynamics, evolution

Prediction

An exact proposed outcome of one’s experiment

Falsifiable

Refers to the fact that a hypothesis cannot be proven, only supported (or the opposite)

Baseline

Starting measurement in an experiment

Control

A group of individuals in an experiment not receiving the independent variable

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)

Fundamental molecule of life that contains genetic information

Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids

Four classes of organic molecules

Covalent Bond

A chemical bond in which two atoms share electrons

Atom

Smallest unit of a chemical element

Electron

Negatively charged particles that move around a nucleus within ‘clouds’ called orbitals

2n²

Formula for remembering how many electrons can go in each shell of an atom

Carbon

Foundational element of organic molecules that, by definition, makes it organic

Gene

A section of DNA that codes for a specific trait/action

Chromosome

What DNA condenses into to allow for cell replication

Intron

Repetitive sections of DNA that are condensed and do not code

Exon

Non-repetitive section of DNA that ‘exit’ the nucleus to code for RNA

Telomere

Specialized structures found in eukaryotes at the end of chromosomes that protect them, provide stability, and oversee how genes are expressed. Deteriorate (get shorter) with repeated replication.

Phosphate group, 5-carbon deoxyribose sugar, nitrogenous base

Three structures that make up nucleotides

Nucleotide

‘Building blocks’ of DNA, string together to form nucleic acid macromolecules, specifically DNA

OH

Chemical formula for a hydroxyl group

Adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine

The four nitrogenous bases found in DNA

The Central Dogma

Foundational concept in biology that describes how DNA codes for RNA which then codes for proteins

Structural, transport, enzymatic

Three main roles of proteins

Hydrogen Bond

When the hydrogen of one molecule chemically bonds to an electronegative atom of another molecule, creating a slightly negative charge

Daughter Cells

The result of cell replication, there are two and they are identical to both each other and the parent cell

Gene Expression

The concept that explains why cells can all have the same DNA in them, but be very different based on which genes are active

DNA Replication

The process in which a cell’s DNA is copied using a variety of enzymes to allow for cell division

Antiparallel

The term that refers to the fact that DNA strands run next to each other in opposite directions

Semiconservative

The term that refers to the fact that one strand in replicated DNA is from the parent strand, and one strand is new

-ase

The suffix that indicates it’s an enzyme

Helicase

Enzyme that opens up the helix to start DNA replication

Primase

Enzyme that makes primers, pieces of RNA that allow for the start of DNA replication and will later be removed

DNA Polymerase

Enzyme that creates a new strand of DNA by laying down complementary base pair nucleotides. Able to self-correct mistakes.

Ligase

Enzyme that fills in the gaps in replicated DNA left by RNA primer

3’ to 5’

The direction in which base pairs are read during DNA replication

5’ to 3’

The direction in which base pairs are laid down during DNA replication

Replication Fork

Refers to the spot in which a DNA strand is being unraveled for replication

Leading Strand

The strand of DNA that is read straight across and built continuously

Lagging Strand

The strand of DNA that is read and built discontinuously in pieces called Okazaki fragments

Okazaki Fragments

The name of the pieces created from replicating the lagging strand of DNA

Telomerase

Enzyme that adds its own ‘buffer’ to extend the 3’ ends of DN to keep them from losing important genetic information. More activity in cancer cells.