Life Sciences Flashcards - DNA

eukaryotes

organisms whose cells have a nucleus as well as other membrane bound organelles

nucleus

a double membrane bound organelle that contains the cells genetic material

membrane

a lipid bilayer that separates the inside from the outside of a cell or organelle

organelle

a specialised part of a cell with a specific function

nuclear pores

openings in the nuclear envelope that regulates the movement of molecules between the nucleus and the cytoplasm

nucleoplasm

fills the nucleus and is similar to cytoplasm, holds the chromatin network

metabolism

all the chemical reactions taking place in an organism

nucleolus

the nucleolus is a denser region found within the cell nucleus that produces the cell's ribosomes

chromatin network

a network of DNA and proteins in the

DNA

deoxyribonucleic acid, a nucleic acid that carries biological information (the genetic code)

chromosomes

structures made of DNA and proteins

genes

a segment of a chromosome that controls each characteristic of an organism, carries hereditary information for building particular proteins

mitochondria

organelles where cellular respiration occurs

chloroplast

organelles where photosynthesis occurs

extranuclear DNA

DNA found in organelles outside the nucleus, mitochondrial DNA and chloroplast DNA

RNA

ribonucleic acid, a nucleic acid that carries the genetic code for building proteins (protein synthesis)

monomers

smaller building blocks of larger molecules called polymers

nucleotides

monomers of nucleic acids, made up of 3 parts: phosphate group + pentose sugar + nitrogen base

cytoplasm

a thick solution that fills a cell and is enclosed by the cell membrane

hypothesis

a testable statement used by scientists to establish scientific knowledge

x-ray

an invisible light wave of short wavelength and high energy used to take pictures of particular structures not normally visible

X-ray crystallography

a scientific procedure using X-rays to determine the molecular structure of a crystal

double helix

a double spiral consisting of two twisted strands

scientific model

a representation, based on measured properties, used to describe or explain an object, process or system 

Nobel Prize

prestigious international prizes awarded for outstanding academic work

polymer

large organic molecules made up of monomers

deoxyribose sugar

pentose sugar found in DNA

phosphate group

phosphorus containing molecules that form part of a nucleotide

nitrogenous base

nitrogen containing molecule that forms part of a nucleotide

adenine

a nitrogenous base in DNA and RNA, abbreviated as "A"

thymine

a nitrogenous base in DNA, abbreviated as "T"

cytosine

a nitrogenous base in DNA and RNA, abbreviated as "C"

guanine

a nitrogenous base in DNA and RNA, abbreviated as "G"

uracil

a nitrogenous base in RNA, abbreviated as "U"

purine bases

larger nitrogenous bases in DNA, adenine (A) and guanine (G)

pyrimidine bases

smaller nitrogenous bases in DNA, thymine (T) and cytosine (C)

hydrogen bonds

weak bonds that form between complementary nitrogenous bases

complimentary bases

hydrogen bonds form only between certain nitrogenous bases, A-T and G-C

genome

the complete set of genes in an organism

DNA replication

process of DNA making exact copies of itself, unreplicated chromosomes become replicated chromosomes

amino acids

the monomers of proteins

coding DNA

DNA that contains genes that code for specific proteins

non-coding DNA

DNA that contains sequences that do not encode for proteins

gene expression

controls that ensure when genes are switched on or off

DNA mutation

errors that occur during DNA replication causing permanent changes to the sequence of DNA nucleotides

complementary DNA strand

the matching strands of the double helix according to the sequence of complementary bases A

DNA replication

process of DNA making exact copies of itself, unreplicated chromosomes become replicated chromosomes

interphase

the main phase of a cells cycle, the cell grows, replicates its DNA and prepares for mitosis

template

used as a pattern for copying

enzymes

proteins that act as biological catalysts (speed up chemical reactions without being used up in the chemical reaction itself)

free nucleotides

individual nucleotides available in the nucleoplasm for building more DNA or RNA during DNA replication or transcription

daughter cell

a cell formed by the division of another cell

mother cell

the cell that divides to form daughter cells

biological inheritance

the passing of genetic information from one generation to another

DNA profile

a representation of an individuals genetic characteristics

DNA profiling

process determining an individual's genetic characteristics for comparison with other samples

DNA sample

DNA extracted from an individuals cells

DNA extraction

process used to isolate the DNA from cells e.g. skin, blood

identical twins

individuals that developed from the same zygote and thus have the same DNA sequence or DNA profile

forensic evidence

evidence obtained scientifically from a crime scene

paternity

the state of being someone's father

endangered species

a species that is seriously at risk of extinction

poaching

to hunt illegally

DNA barcode

a representation of the genetic characteristics of a particular species or population

genetic disorder

a health problem caused by one or more abnormalities in the genome

RNA

ribonucleic acid, a nucleic acid involved in protein synthesis

uracil

a nitrogenous base in RNA that is the RNA equivalent of thymine, complementary to adenine during transcription

ribose

pentose sugar found in RNA

messenger RNA (mRNA)

RNA that carries the genetic code from the nucleus to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm where proteins get manufactured

transfer RNA (tRNA)

RNA that picks up specific amino acids and takes them to the ribosomes where proteins get manufactured

ribosomal RNA (rRNA)

RNA that forms the structure of ribosomes

ribosomes

a structure made of RNA and proteins where proteins are manufactured

protein synthesis

process by which proteins are made involving transcription and translation

transcription

mRNA obtains the DNA code for a particular protein and takes it to the ribosome

translation

at the ribosome the mRNA code sis converted into an amino acid sequence forming a protein

amino acids

the monomers of proteins

peptide bond

the bond that forms between amino acids forming a polypeptide or protein

base triplets

the three letter DNA sequences in genes that contain the code for one amino acid

codons

the three letter RNA sequences in mRNA that contain the code for one amino acid

template

used as a pattern for copying

anticodon

three exposed bases on the tRNA that are complimentary to a specific codon on mRNA, different tRNA molecules with different anticodons pick up specific amino acids