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3 Nucleotide Components
5-carbon sugar - DNA - Deoxyribose sugar or RNA - Ribose Sugar
Phosphate Group
Nitrogen Base
Nitrogen Bases
Encodes the genetic information.
Purines
Double ring
Complementary Base Pairing
Adenine (A) and Guanine (G) Cytosine (C) and Thymine (T)
Pyrimidines
Single ring
Double Helix
Consists of two strands connected in a helical fashion (think spiral staircase).
Semi-conservative Replication
Base pairing allows each strand to serve as a template for a new strand.
DNA Helicase
Unzips the double helix by breaking the hydrogen bonds between the nitrogen bases that connect the two strands together.
DNA Polymerase
Reads the template strand and adds nucleotides to form the complementary DNA strand.
Genome
Consists of all of the genetic material of an organism.
Gene
A short segment of DNA found on a chromosome that contains the instructions for building a protein.
Allele
Variation of a gene.
Locus
Location of a gene on a chromosome.
Genotype
Genetic makeup, seq. of DNA.
Phenotype
The organism’s physical traits.
Gene Expression
Refers to the production of the protein the gene codes for.
RNA (Ribonucleic Acid)
A polymer of a nucleic acid that is found in all living cells and plays a role in protein synthesis.
Messenger RNA (mRNA)
Produced from a DNA template, and carries the information for protein production to the ribosome (where proteins are made).
Transfer RNA (tRNA)
Functions as a translator between nucleic acid and protein languages by carrying specific amino acids to the ribosome, where they recognize the appropriate codons in the mRNA.
Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
Molecules together with proteins makeup ribosomes.
Transcription
Makes a mRNA copy of the DNA gene.
Introns
Noncoding regions (do not code for the polypeptide).
Exons
Code for the polypeptide.
Alternative Splicing
Genes can code for multiple proteins depending how the mRNA is spliced.
Translation
The synthesis of a protein using the genetic information encoded in an mRNA molecule.
Codon
Three consecutive nucleotides on mRNA that code for a specific amino acid.
Genetic Code
The set of codons and the amino acids they code for.
Anticodon
Sequence on the tRNA that is complementary to the codon.
Mutation
A permanent change in the DNA sequence of a gene.
Point Mutations
Affects one nucleotide.
Chromosomal Mutations
Affects many nucleotides.
Substitution
Change a nucleotide
Insertion
Add a nucleotide
Deletion
Remove a nucleotide
Frameshift Mutation
Mutation that shifts the “reading” frame of the genetic message by inserting or deleting a nucleotide caused by insertion or deletion point mutations.
Chromosomal Mutations
Involves many nucleotides; ex. deletion, duplication, inversion, translocation.
Methyl groups
Tighten chromatin, DNA is not accessible for transcription. Genes are “off” (no gene expression).
Acetyl groups
Loosen chromatin, DNA is accessible for transcription. Genes are “on” (genes are expressed).
Differentiation
The process in which cells become specialized in structure and function.