Eukaryotic Cells, DNA Replication, and Protein Synthesis

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering cell organelles, DNA replication components, protein synthesis steps, RNA, mutations, and PCR based on lecture notes.

Cell

The smallest unit of life.

Cell membrane

Flexible outer layer of a cell.

Cytoplasm

The gel-like substance that fills a cell.

Nucleus

The control center of the cell that contains DNA.

Mitochondria

Organelle that produces energy (ATP) for cellular activities.

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

A network of membranes that makes and transports proteins and fats; exists in rough and smooth forms.

Golgi Apparatus

(post office) Modifies, sorts, and packages proteins into small sacs called vesicles.

Lysosomes

(breaks down) Small organelles that break down waste, old cell parts, and other materials for recycling (the cell's digestive system).

Centrioles

Small organelles made out of microtubules that assist in cell division.

Eukaryotic Cell Anatomy

Diagram illustrating the structural components and organelles of a eukaryotic cell.

Synthesis

Building molecules from smaller components.

Enzyme

A type of protein that speeds up chemical reactions.

Proteins

Molecules made of amino acids that provide structure, break down nutrients, send signals, and speed up chemical reactions.

Amino acids

Building blocks of proteins.

Fats

A triglyceride (a type of lipid) that is usually solid at room temperature.

Chromosomes

An X-shaped structure where DNA is stored, composed of protein balls wrapped with DNA string.

Microtubules

Small, hollow tubes that maintain a cell's shape.

Molecule

A particle made up of one or more elements.

Lipids

Any organic compound.

Helicase

Enzyme that unzips DNA by breaking the hydrogen bonds between complementary bases.

Topoisomerase

Enzyme that prevents DNA from becoming too twisted (supercoiling) while unzipping.

Primase

Enzyme that makes RNA primers which provide DNA polymerase with a starting point.

RNA primer

A short piece of RNA that marks where DNA polymerase should start building a new strand.

DNA polymerase

Enzyme that builds the new DNA strand by adding complementary nucleotides.

DNA nucleotides

The building blocks of DNA containing the bases A, T, C, and G.

Replication fork

Y-shaped structure that forms after DNA is unzipped.

Leading strand

A new DNA strand made continuously toward the replication fork.

Lagging strand

The new DNA strand made in short sections called Okazaki fragments.

Okazaki fragments

The short pieces of DNA synthesized on the lagging strand.

DNA ligase

Enzyme that glues short Okazaki fragments together to make a continuous strand.

Hydrogen bonds

The bonds holding complementary bases together in DNA.

Complementary base pairing

The base pairing rule where adenine pairs with thymine ($A=T$) and cytosine pairs with guanine ($C=G$).

Semi-conservative replication

DNA replication process where each new DNA molecule contains one original strand and one new strand.

RNA (Ribonucleic acid)

A single-stranded molecule containing uracil ($U$) instead of thymine ($T$) that helps the cell use stored DNA information.

Anticodon

The connecting part of tRNA that matches a three-base codon on the mRNA strand.

Mutation

A change in the DNA sequence that can alter mRNA instructions, amino acid composition, and protein structure.

PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)

A laboratory technique used to make millions of copies of a specific section of DNA for study or analysis.

Amino Acid Chart

A chart used to decode 3-base mRNA codons into specific amino acids and match corresponding protein sequences.