Hereditary Material and Protein Synthesis

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from lecture notes on hereditary material, DNA, RNA, protein synthesis, and the small town analogy model.

Genome

All the genetic material in the chromosomes of a particular organism; like an instruction manual containing specific instructions to build a living organism, divided into chromosomes which safely store and organize genes made of DNA.

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid)

A polymer of monomers called nucleotides, composed of a sugar (deoxyribose), a phosphate backbone, and a nitrogen base. Guanine (G) pairs with Cytosine (C) and Adenine (A) pairs with Thymine (T).

Gene Sequencing

The process of determining the sequence of DNA, an important part of genomics, leading to discoveries of genes responsible for disease, growth, development, and other biological processes.

Human Genome Project

A project that identified the entire human genome (3 billion letters), with potential to change how we approach human health.

DNA Replication

The process where DNA makes copies of itself; the double helix unwinds, and each single strand serves as a template for a new complementary strand.

DNA Polymerase

An enzyme that moves along the parent DNA strand during replication and matches bases to new complementary bases on free nucleotides, forming two new identical helixes.

Protein Synthesis

The process where DNA leads to mRNA which leads to protein, involving transcription (in the nucleus) and translation (in the cytosol with help from ribosomes).

Protein Synthesis

The manufacture of proteins, taking place on ribosomes in the cytoplasm; instructions for protein synthesis are transferred from genes on DNA to the ribosome by RNA.

RNA

The molecule that carries information from chromosomes in the nucleus to ribosomes in the cytoplasm, composed of sugar ribose instead of deoxyribose, and using Uracil (U) instead of Thymine.

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)

Makes up the structure of a ribosome along with several proteins.

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

Carries the DNA message from the nucleus to the ribosome for protein synthesis.

Transfer RNA (tRNA)

Carries amino acids to the ribosomes in the correct order to be added to a growing chain of amino acids.

Transcription

The process of transferring information from a strand of DNA to a strand of RNA; DNA strands unwind and separate, and one strand directs the sequence of nucleotides in the new mRNA.

Copy Machine

Analogy for the process of transcription in the small town model.

Translation

The process in which proteins are formed as long chains of amino acids are completed; bases are arranged in codons (words of three), each standing for one amino acid.

Codon

In the ribosomes for translation, this is a complex of three mRNA nucleotides which specifies which tRNA will bring in a particular amino acid (64 combinations).

Factory

Represents the process of translation, where nucleic acids are translated into the 'amino acid' language.