Unit 7- Protein Synthesis, Mutation and Gene Control

TRANSCRIPTION

Process in which a sequence of DNA is copied into a complementary RNA sequence (DNA → mRNA)

TRANSLATION

Process of decoding an mRNA message into a polypeptide (protein) chain. tRNA brings in the correct amino acids
(RNA → PROTEIN)

TRANSCRIPTION

Process in which a sequence of DNA is copied into a complementary RNA sequence (DNA → mRNA)

TRANSLATION

Process of decoding an mRNA message into a polypeptide (protein) chain. tRNA brings in the correct amino acids
(RNA → PROTEIN)

NUCLEOTIDE

subunit (monomer) consisting of a 5 carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogen base used to build nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA

RNA POLYMERASE

enzyme involved in RNA transcription that binds to DNA, separates the strands, and assembles nucleotide subunits into an RNA molecule

RIBOSOMAL RNA (r-RNA)

type of RNA made by the NUCLEOLUS that is used to make ribosomes

MESSENGER RNA (m-RNA)

type of RNA that carries copies of instructions for making proteins from DNA to the rest of the cell during transcription

TRANSFER RNA (t-RNA)

type of RNA that transfers amino acids to the ribosomes during protein synthesis (translation)

CODON

three nucleotide sequence on m-RNA that codes for a single amino acid, is on the mRNA and is read via the genetic code to determine the correct amino acid this codes for.

ANTICODON

group of three nucleotide bases on a t-RNA molecule that are complementary to an mRNA codon

OPERON

a group of genes operating together. On prokaryoes

INTRON

sequence of DNA that is NOT involved in coding for a protein which is cut out of the m-RNA molecule before it is read by the ribosomes

EXON

Expressed sequence of DNA that codes for a protein

REPRESSOR

molecule that binds to the operator region of an operon and "turns the gene off"

OPERATOR

region in an operon to which repressor proteins bind when the operon is "turned off"

PROMOTER

region in an operon to which RNA polymerase binds to begin transcription

HOX GENES

series of genes that control differentiation of cells and tissues in an embryo

TRANSPOSON

Region of DNA that can jump from one location to another which is thought to be involved in increasing mutations in cells "JUMPING GENE"

GENETIC CODE

collection of codons of mRNA, each of which directs the incorporation of a particular amino acid into a protein during protein synthesis

Central Dogma

DNA -> RNA -> Protein

peptide bond

The chemical bond that forms between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of another amino acid

Peptide

short chain of amino acids

Protein

A three dimensional polymer made of monomers of amino acids.

Uracil

a nitrogen-containing base found in RNA (but not in DNA) and derived from pyrimidine

Mutation

change in a DNA sequence that affects genetic information

Substitution

A mutation in which a nucleotide or a codon in DNA is replaced with a different nucleotide

Deletion

A change in DNA where one nucleotide is deleted.

Frame Shift

a genetic mutation caused by a deletion or insertion in a DNA sequence that shifts the way the sequence is read

Insertion

A mutation involving the addition of one or more nucleotide pairs to a gene.

Inversion mutation

Mutation in which a chromosome piece reattaches to original chromosome but in reverse orientation

Chromosomal Mutation

A change in the chromosome structure, resulting in new gene combinations.

Duplication Mutation

A genetic mutation in which a region that contains a gene or an entire chromosome is duplicated, which results in multiple copies of that region or nucleotide.