Biology Unit 6 Vocab

Acetyl

a “tag” that causes DNA to wrap loose around nucleosomes, which “turns off” the gene, causing increased gene expression

Anaphase

The third stage of Mitosis and Meiosis where the spindle fibers pull the chromatids apart

Antiparallel

Parallel but moving in opposite directions, the way a DNA spirals

Backbone

the structural support of the DNA molecule. Made up of alternating deoxyribose and phosphate groups

Centromeres

the joint region of sister chromatids, where spindle fibers can attach during cell division

Chromatid

one the the two “sister” chromatids, where spindle fibers can attach during cell division

Chromatid

“packaged” form of DNA

Chromosome

a single condensed DNA molecule

Cytokinesis

after telophase and PMAT, a cell wall appears at the center, and the cytoplasm fully splits, dividing the cell into 2 daughter cells

Deoxyribose

a pentose (5-carbon) sugar which makes up part of the DNA molecule’s backbone along with phosphate

Diploid

a cell containing 2 complete sets of chromosomes, one from each parent (2n)

DNA

DeoxyriboNucleic Acid, a molecule that carries genetic info for developing a functioning organism

Double Helix

the shape and structure of the DNA strand

Gametes Cells

sex cells, a haploid cell

Haploid

a single set of unpaired chromosomes (n)

Histones

a type of protein found in the chromosome. Gives chromosomes their shape, and helps control the activity with genes as tags.

Hydrogen bonds

a weak bond between 2 molecules, but the large numbers provide crucial stability for the DNA strand

Interphase

a phase where G1, S1, and G2 occurs, before mitosis or meiosis (PMAT)

Major groove

the wider space between the two strands of the DNA double helix

Meiosis

A type of cell division that results in 4 unique daughter cells, and primarily only for gametes

Metaphase

the second stage of cell division, where spindle fibers attach to the centromere of the chromosomes

Methyl

a “tag” that causes DNA to wrap tighter around nucleosomes, which “turns off” the gene, causing decreased gene expression

Minor groove

the narrower space between the two strands of the DNA double helix

Mitosis

a type of cell division that results in 2 identical daughter cells, and primarily only for somatic (not sexual) cells

Nitrogenous base

Adenine pairs with Thymine in DNA, A pairs with Uracil in RNA. Guanine pairs with cytosine. (think: at group chat AT GC)

Nucleosomes

groups of proteins that DNA wraps around

Nucleotide

the organic molecules that make up a nitrogenous base (phosphate and deoxyribose)

P-Arm

the short arm of a chromosome

Phosphate

PO4, a key component in the DNA molecule’s backbone along with phosphate

Prophase

the first stage of cell division where the chromosomes become visible as paired chromatids

Q-Arm

the long arm of a chromosome

Single strand

typically associated with RNA, a single-strand molecule

Sister Chromatids

identical copies of a chromosome that are held together during replication

Somatic cells

body cells, a diploid cell

Telophase

the fourth/final stage of cell division, where 2 new nuclei are formed

5-prime end

5th carbon of deoxyribise sugar ring, what phosphate bonds to

3-prime end

3rd carbon of deoxyribose sugar ring

Dehydration Synthesis

a chemical reaction involving removing an H20 molecule from 2 molecules to create one bigger molecule

Hydrolysis

a chemical reaction where a molecule is broken down by a reaction with an H20 molecule, usually needs an enzyme to help the H20 break molecule apart.

Helicase

an enzyme that breaks the hydrogen bonds in DNA strands

DNA Polymerase

an enzyme that builds the polymer of DNA by adding onto only the 3 prime end

Leading Strand

“good guy strand” adds DNAP smoothly because the DNAP can just follow the helicase

Lagging Strand

“scumbag strand” a strand that reads 3 prime to 5 prime, so the DNAP can only add on in small sections since it can’t follow the helicase

Ligase

an enzyme that “glues” together all the segments of DNA, and checks over the patterns

Primase

an enzyme that lays down RNA primer to get DNAP to start replicating

Polymers

repeating monomers

Base Sequence

AT || GC

AU (RNA only)

RNA

RiboNucleic Acid is a single stranded molecule and has ribose sugar. Has Uracil instead of Thymine