Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis

Flashcards created to aid in understanding key concepts and vocabulary related to nucleic acids and protein synthesis.

Nucleic Acids

Biomolecules, including DNA and RNA, that store and transmit genetic information.

DNA Structure

Consists of a 5-carbon sugar (deoxyribose), a phosphate group, and four nitrogen bases: adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine.

Nucleotide

The basic building block of nucleic acids, composed of a sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogen base.

Transcription

The process of copying DNA into messenger RNA (mRNA).

mRNA

Messenger RNA, which carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosome for protein synthesis.

tRNA

Transfer RNA, which brings specific amino acids to the ribosome during protein synthesis.

rRNA

Ribosomal RNA, a component of the ribosome that helps in protein synthesis.

Codon

A sequence of three nucleotides on mRNA that corresponds to a specific amino acid.

Anticodon

A three-nucleotide sequence on tRNA that complements a codon on mRNA.

Translation

The process of synthesizing proteins from mRNA at the ribosome.

Gene Mutations

Changes in the sequence of nucleotides in a gene, which can affect protein synthesis.

Frameshift Mutation

Mutations caused by insertions or deletions that shift the reading frame of the genetic message.

Substitution Mutation

A mutation that replaces one nucleotide with another, potentially affecting one amino acid.

Point Mutation

A type of mutation where a single nucleotide change results in a different amino acid or no change at all.

Silent Mutation

A mutation that does not change the amino acid sequence due to redundancy in the genetic code.

Missense Mutation

A mutation that results in a different amino acid being incorporated into a protein.

Nonsense Mutation

A mutation that creates a stop codon, leading to premature termination of protein synthesis.

Base Pairing Rules

The rules that dictate how nucleotides bond, where adenine pairs with thymine (or uracil in RNA) and cytosine pairs with guanine.

DNA Triplets

Groups of three nucleotides in DNA that encode for a specific amino acid.