Molecular Genetics

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from molecular genetics, including DNA structure, replication, and the experiments that elucidated the role of DNA as the genetic material.

Central Dogma

The process by which genetic information flows from DNA to RNA to proteins.

DNA Structure

DNA is composed of two anti-parallel strands forming a double helix structure.

Replication

The process of copying DNA prior to cell division.

Transcription

The synthesis of RNA from a DNA template.

Translation

The process where ribosomes synthesize proteins using mRNA as a template.

Avery-MacLeod-McCarty experiment

Provided evidence that DNA is the hereditary material by demonstrating that DNase destroyed transforming activity.

Hershey-Chase experiment

Used radioactive labeling to show that DNA is the genetic material transferred to bacteria by a virus.

Nucleotide

The building block of DNA, consisting of a nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar, and a phosphate group.

Base Pairing

The specific pairing of nitrogenous bases (A with T, C with G) in DNA.

Watson-Crick model

The double helical structure of DNA proposed in 1953, explaining the antiparallel strands and base pairing.

Semiconservative replication

The method of DNA replication where each new DNA molecule consists of one old strand and one new strand.

Chargaff's Rules

In DNA, the amount of adenine equals thymine and the amount of cytosine equals guanine.

Transformation

The process by which bacteria take up foreign DNA from their environment.

Mutagenesis

The process of inducing mutations in DNA.