Unit 3

Protein Synthesis

The process by which proteins are made in cells.

Biomolecules

Molecules needed for protein synthesis, including proteins and nucleic acids.

Proteins

Long chains of amino acids that perform various functions in the body.

Amino Acids

Building blocks of proteins that come from the food we eat.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, a type of nucleic acid that provides the sequence for protein synthesis.

Nucleic Acid

Long chains of nucleotides, including DNA and RNA.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, a type of nucleic acid that contains the genetic information.

Nucleotide

The subunits of nucleic acids, consisting of a phosphate, sugar, and nitrogenous base.

Nitrogenous Bases

Cytosine, guanine, adenine, and thymine (in DNA) or uracil (in RNA).

Double Stranded

DNA is double stranded, meaning it consists of two complementary strands.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid, a type of nucleic acid that plays a role in protein synthesis.

Single Stranded

RNA is single stranded, meaning it consists of a single strand of nucleotides.

Types of RNA

mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA, which play different roles in protein synthesis.

Organelles

Structures within cells that carry out specific functions.

Nucleus

Organelle that houses DNA and provides the code for protein synthesis.

Ribosomes

Organelles where protein synthesis occurs by linking amino acids together.

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

Organelle that transports the amino acid chain to the Golgi apparatus.

Golgi Apparatus

Organelle that folds, modifies, and packages proteins for transport.

Steps of Protein Synthesis

Transcription (DNA to mRNA) and Translation (mRNA to protein).

Transcription

Process of copying DNA into mRNA, which occurs in the nucleus.

Translation

Process of converting mRNA into a protein, which occurs in the cytoplasm.

Transcription Steps

Initiation, elongation, termination, and modification of pre-mRNA.

Translation Steps

Initiation, elongation, termination, and modification of the amino acid chain.

Mutations

Changes in the DNA sequence that can affect protein synthesis and function.

Photosynthesis

Process by which producers convert sunlight into the chemical energy of glucose.

Law of Conservation

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or transformed.

Chloroplast

Organelle where photosynthesis occurs in plants, algae, and some bacteria.

Thylakoids

Flat sacs in the chloroplast where the light reaction of photosynthesis takes place.

Stroma

Fluid space around the thylakoids where the dark reaction of photosynthesis occurs.

Light Absorption

Process by which pigments absorb sunlight energy to excite electrons.

Electron Transport Chain

Transfer of high-energy electrons through carrier proteins.

Oxygen Formation

Byproduct of splitting water during photosynthesis.

ATP Production

Process of generating ATP using the energy from hydrogen ions.

Carbon Fixation

Process of converting CO2 into organic molecules during the dark reaction.

Krebs Cycle

Series of reactions that harvest hydrogens from organic molecules.

Electron Transport Chain

Process of transferring electrons to generate ATP.

Anaerobic Cellular Respiration

Cellular respiration without oxygen, resulting in fermentation.

Alcoholic Fermentation

Type of anaerobic respiration that produces ethanol and CO2.

Lactic Acid Fermentation

Type of anaerobic respiration that produces lactic acid.

Cell Cycle

Series of events that cells go through as they grow and divide.

DNA Replication

The process in which each strand of DNA serves as a template to add DNA nucleotides.

Sister Chromatids

The replicated copies of a chromosome that are held together by a centromere.

G2 Phase

The phase of the cell cycle characterized by continued growth and replication of cell organelles.

Prophase

The stage of mitosis where chromatin condenses into chromosomes in their replicated sister chromatid state and the nuclear membrane breaks down.

Centrosomes

Structures that produce spindle fibers during cell division and attach them to the centromere of chromosomes.

Metaphase

The stage of mitosis where the spindle fibers move the sister chromatids to the center of the cell.

Anaphase

The stage of mitosis where the spindle fibers shorten, pulling the sister chromatids apart to opposite sides of the cell.

Telophase

The stage of mitosis where the spindle fibers breakdown, the nuclear membrane rebuilds around the chromosomes, and the chromosomes uncoil into chromatin.

Cytokinesis (Animal)

The process in animal cells where the cell membrane pinches inward, separating the cytoplasm and cell into two identical cells.

Cytokinesis (Plant)

The process in plant cells where a new cell wall is built along the center of the cell to separate the cytoplasm and cell into two identical cells.