protien synthe

Transcription

Process of copying a sequence of DNA to produce a complementary strand of RNA

Translation

Process by which mRNA is decoded and a protein is produced

Ribosome

Cytoplasmic organelles at which proteins are synthesized.

Codon

A sequence of three nucleotide bases on mRNA that refers to a specific amino acid.

mRNA

Messenger RNA. Transcribed from a DNA molecule. Carries DNA's message to a ribosome. Provides a binding site for tRNA.

tRNA

Transfer RNA. Carries amino acids to the ribosome during translation

rRNA

Ribosomal RNA. RNA that acts as a structural component in ribosomes.

Anticodon

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

Amino Acid

Building blocks of proteins

Mutations

A change in the nucleotide sequence of an organism's DNA, ultimately creating genetic diversity. Mutations also can occur in the DNA or RNA of a virus.

Protein

A molecule that is made up of amino acids and that is needed to build and repair body structures and to regulate processes in the body.

RNA Polymerase

Enzyme that transcribes DNA into mRNA in the process of transcription

DNA

A nucleic acid found in the nucleus of all living cells, which carries the organism's hereditary information.

Point mutation/substitution

chemical changes in just one base pair of a gene

Frameshift mutation

A mutation that changes the reading frame of a DNA molecule. Caused by a deletion or insertion.

Missense mutation

A point mutation/substitution resulting in a different amino acid within an amino acid sequence

Nonsense mutation

A mutation resulting in a premature stop codon in an amino acid sequence

Silent mutation

A point mutation/substitution resulting in no change to the amino acid sequence.