DNA Structure and Protein Synthesis

These flashcards cover key concepts related to DNA structure, replication, and protein synthesis.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that carries genetic instructions.

Transcription

The process of copying a segment of DNA into RNA.

Translation

The process of decoding mRNA to synthesize proteins.

Nucleotide

The building blocks of DNA, consisting of a phosphate group, a sugar, and a nitrogenous base.

Codon

A sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that encodes a specific amino acid.

Adenine (A)

A nitrogenous base found in DNA and RNA; pairs with thymine in DNA and uracil in RNA.

Cytosine (C)

A nitrogenous base found in DNA and RNA; pairs with guanine.

Guanine (G)

A nitrogenous base found in DNA and RNA; pairs with cytosine.

Thymine (T)

A nitrogenous base found in DNA; pairs with adenine.

Uracil (U)

A nitrogenous base found in RNA; replaces thymine.

Mutations

Changes in DNA sequence that can affect genetic information.

Polymerase

An enzyme that synthesizes DNA and RNA by adding nucleotides.

Helicase

An enzyme that unwinds the DNA double helix during replication.

Semi-conservative replication

The method of DNA replication where each new DNA molecule consists of one old strand and one new strand.

Chargaff's Rule

The principle stating that in DNA, the amount of adenine equals thymine, and the amount of guanine equals cytosine.

Ribosome

Cellular structure where proteins are synthesized from mRNA.

tRNA (Transfer RNA)

RNA that carries amino acids to the ribosome during protein synthesis.

mRNA (Messenger RNA)

RNA that carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosome.

rRNA (Ribosomal RNA)

RNA that makes up the structural and functional components of the ribosome.

Exons

Coding regions of a gene that are expressed in RNA.

Introns

Non-coding regions of a gene that are removed during RNA processing.

Gene expression

The process by which information from a gene is used to synthesize a functional gene product, typically a protein.

Codon chart

A table used to interpret the genetic code and determine the corresponding amino acids.

Frameshift mutation

A mutation that results from the insertion or deletion of nucleotides, altering the reading frame.

Silent mutation

A mutation that does not change the amino acid sequence of a protein.

Gene mutation

A mutation that affects the sequence of nucleotides within a gene.

RNA editing

The process of modifying RNA after transcription, including splicing out introns.

Telomeres

The protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that help maintain stability.

DNA ligase

An enzyme that connects Okazaki fragments on the lagging strand during DNA replication.

Protein synthesis

The process of translating genetic instructions into proteins.

Anti-parallel orientation

The arrangement of the two strands of DNA running in opposite directions.