Chapter 13: The Molecular Basis of Inheritance

Vocabulary flashcards for key concepts in Chapter 13, focusing on DNA structure, function, and related experiments.

DNA

The genetic material that carries hereditary information.

Chromosome

A structure consisting of a DNA molecule packed with proteins.

DNA replication

The process by which DNA is duplicated to allow genetic information to be inherited.

Transformation

A change in genotype and phenotype due to the assimilation of external DNA by a cell.

Virulent strain

A strain of bacteria that can cause disease, equipped with protective features like a smooth capsule.

Nonvirulent strain

A strain of bacteria that does not cause disease and lacks protective features like a capsule.

Avery-MacLeod-McCarty experiment

An experiment that determined DNA is the transforming factor responsible for heredity.

Bacteriophage

A virus that infects and replicates within bacteria.

Chargaff's rules

The observation that in DNA, the percentages of adenine and thymine are equal, as well as cytosine and guanine.

Nucleotide

The basic building block of DNA, consisting of a phosphate group, a five-carbon sugar, and a nitrogenous base.

Purines

Class of nitrogenous bases characterized by a double-ring structure; examples include adenine and guanine.

Pyrimidines

Class of nitrogenous bases characterized by a single-ring structure; examples include cytosine and thymine.

Watson and Crick

The scientists who built the first molecular model of DNA and explained its double helix structure.

Rosalind Franklin

The scientist who used X-ray diffraction to reveal the helical structure of DNA.

Hershey-Chase experiment

An experiment that demonstrated that DNA is the genetic material by using radioactive tagging.

Adenine (A)

One of the four nitrogenous bases in DNA that pairs with thymine.

Thymine (T)

One of the four nitrogenous bases in DNA that pairs with adenine.

Cytosine (C)

One of the four nitrogenous bases in DNA that pairs with guanine.

Guanine (G)

One of the four nitrogenous bases in DNA that pairs with cytosine.