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DNA (acronym)
Deoxyribonucleic Acid
Double Helix
Shape of DNA
Adenine
Base Pair A, Paired with T in DNA or U in RNA
Guanine
Base Pair G, Paired with C
Cytosine
Base Pair C, Paired with G
Thymine
Base Pair T, Paired with A, Only in DNA
Deoxyribose
5 Carbon Sugar in DNA
Ribose
Sugar in RNA
Uracil
Base Pair U, Paired with A, Only in RNA
RNA (acronym)
Ribonucleic Acid
Chromosome
Fully condensed DNA in preparation for cell division
Chromatin
Uncondensed DNA, In a thread-like form
Chromatid
Sister Chromatids are in a duplicated chromosome, they are one side of the X
Histones
The proteins which DNA wraps around
DNA Replication
Process where DNA replicates
Topoisomerase
Untwists the Double helix
Primase
Catalyzes the synthesis of short-chain RNA because DNA can’t initiate the synthesis itself
Helicase
Breaks down hydrogen bonds between DNA strands
DNA polymerase
Joins the nucleotides of the new DNA
Ligase
Joins DNA fragments on the discontinuous strand
Anti-Parallel
Running in opposite directions (DNA strands do this)
Leading Strand
The Continuous strand in replication
Lagging Strand
Discontinuous strand in replication (broken apart and put back together by Ligase)
Okazaki Fragments
Fragments of the Lagging strand, put back together by Ligase
Mitosis
Diploid cell reproduction, only 1 cycle, last stage of the cell cycle
Centromere
Middle part of the X in a chromosome
Meiosis
Haploid cell reproduction, 2 cycles
Homologous Pair
Chromosome Pairs, Humans have 23 pairs
Cytokinesis
Division of Cytoplasm and Organelles for new cells
Cell Cycle
A series of events from one cell division to the next
G1
First part of the Cell cycle, cell grows and does its job
S
Synthesis, DNA replication in preparation for division
G2
Cell creates new proteins in preparation for division
Spindle Fiber
Strands used to pull chromosomes in anaphase and metaphase
Prophase (mitosis)
1st phase of mitosis, duplicated chromosomes are visible, nuclear membrane breaks apart
Metaphase (mitosis)
2nd phase of mitosis, Chromosomes align in the middle of the cell, spindle fibers attach
Anaphase (mitosis)
3rd phase of mitosis, sister chromatids separate and become independent chromosomes, spindle fibers drag them to opposite sides
Telophase (mitosis)
4th phase of mitosis, chromosomes uncondense, nuclear membrane re-appears, 2 daughter cells form
Cell Plate
Vesicles gather along the midline and form a cell plate
Contractile Ring
A ring formed outside of the cell membrane which pinches off the two cells
Cleavage Furrow
The area where the 2 animal cells are formed after telophase
Haploid
Half-DNA cells, sex cells, formed in meiosis
Diploid
Full DNA cells, autosomal cells, formed in mitosis
G0
Cell arrest, cell cycle stops, cells are in G1 permanently, includes heart cells and neurons
Synapsis
During Prophase 1 of Meiosis 1, homologous chromosomes line up closely together
Tetrad
2 aligned chromosomes, or 4 sister chromatids when crossing over
Crossing Over
During Prophase 1 of Meiosis 1, Sections of non-sister chromatids break off and switch places, creates genetic diversity
Random Alignment
During Metaphase 1 of Meiosis 1, Chromosomes randomly align themselves, creates more genetic diversity
Independent Assortment
Same thing as Random Alignment
Gametes
Haploid reproductive cells produced through meiosis
Egg
Haploid female sex cell
Polar Bodies
Leftover thingies after an egg cell is formed
Sperm
Haploid male sex cell
Parent cell
The cell daughter cells are made from
Daughter cells
the 2 new cells formed
Aneuploidy
The condition of having an abnormal number of chromosomes in a haploid set
Polyploidy
The condition of having and abnormal number of chromosomes in a diploid set
RNA polymerase
The enzyme which performs transcription. Unwinds DNA and attaches mRNA bases
Transcription
Copying of a gene’s recipe onto mRNA
Translation
3 steps, Initiation, Elongation, Termination. Creates polypeptides based on the information in the mRNA
mRNA
Messenger RNA, gets a message transcribes onto it and transports the message to the tRNA to be transcribed
rRNA
Ribosomal RNA, the main component of the Ribosomes, globular
tRNA
Transfer RNA, strange hairpin shape, reads the mRNA and makes the proteins
Amino Acid Chain
The new polypeptide formed after transcription
Ribosome
Organelle which makes the proteins and where protein synthesis occurs
Polysome
Poly ribosome, when multiple ribosomes cluster around the same mRNA
Point Mutation
A mutation where a single base is added, changed, or deleted. Has moderate to severe impacts
Base Change Substitution
When one base replaces another in a mutation
Insertion/Deletion
Bases are either added or removed in a mutation
Non-Frameshift Mutations
Insertion or deletion of a multiple 3 numbers of bases ex. losing AAG or gaining AAG,AAT. Usually moderate-severe impact
Frameshift Mutations
Insertion or deletion of a non-multiple of 3 number of bases ex. losing AU or gaining GCCT
Silent mutation
A base has changed but the correct amino acid is formed. There is no health impact
Missense Mutation
The base change causes the wrong amino acid to be formed, but the production of amino acids continues. Health impacts are moderate-severe
Nonsense Mutation
Where a single base changes similar to a missense mutation, however it codes for a premature stop. Health impacts are very severe
Allele
Alternative forms of the same gene
Autosome
All numbered chromosomes, all but X and Y, carry out the body’s regular functions
Sex Chromosomes
X and Y chromosomes
Polygenic inheritance
When more than one gene affects the outcome of the expressed characteristic. usually shown through a bell curve
Blood type inheritance
Type of polygenic inheritance. made up of the A, B and O alleles as well as the + and - parts
Codominance
2 alleles are equally expressed as traits, when a chicken is both black and white when having a black father and a white mother
Incomplete dominance
When one allele pair is not fully dominant over the other, resulting in a blend of the 2 traits. When a black father chicken and a white mother chicken have a grey chicken baby.
Microevolution
Short term changes in allele frequencies in populations
5 Fingers of Microevolution
Mutations, 2. Gene Flow, 3. Genetic Drift, 4. Sexual Selection, 5. Natural Selection
Gene Flow
The physical movement of alleles in and out of a population. Ex. Migration
Mutation (microevolution)
When a new allele is formed which is beneficial for the organism
Genetic Drift
Random change in allele frequency in a population over time due to chance alone
Bottleneck effect
When a huge percent of a population is randomly wiped out and the survivors are the only ones who pass on their genes, eliminating certain alleles and passing on others
Founder Effect
When a separated group starts a new colony with allele frequencies that are very different from the original population
Sexual Selection
When a trait makes it either easier or harder for the organism to reproduce, and making passing on genes either easier or harder
Natural Selection
The process where organisms with certain traits are best suited to survive and reproduce, thus passing on those traits to succeeding generations.
Adaptation
A favorable trait
Decent with modification
Modern animals are the modified descendants of older extinct species
Stabilizing Selection
The central form is favored and the extremes are less favored
Disruptive Selection
Extremes are more favored and central is selected against
Directional Selection
The trait shift in a clear direction towards one extreme
Allopatric Speciation
Due to geographical isolation: physical separation of members of a population
Sympatric Speciation
In the same geographical area, but separated due to other factors such as: habitat isolation, temporal isolation, behavioral isolation, mechanical isolation, and gametic isolation
Habitat Isolation
When species occupy different niches In the same are
Temporal Isolation
When species breed at different times, be it time of day or time of year
Behavioral Isolation
When species have different mating calls or rituals