Revision Genetics and Evolution

DNA Nucleotide

The basic building block of DNA, comprising a nitrogen base, a phosphate group, and a ribose sugar.

Transcription

The process by which DNA is copied into RNA in the nucleus.

Ribosome

Cellular structure where RNA is translated into proteins.

Codons

Triplets of RNA nucleotides that code for amino acids.

Autosome

Any chromosome that is not a sex chromosome; humans have 22 pairs of autosomes.

Mitosis

The process of cell division that results in two identical daughter cells.

Meiosis

The process of cell division that produces gametes with half the number of chromosomes.

Phenotype

The observable traits or characteristics of an organism.

Homozygous Recessive

An organism with two identical recessive alleles for a trait.

Phenylketonuria (PKU)

A genetic disorder caused by a deficiency in an enzyme needed to process phenylalanine.

Allele

A variant form of a gene.

Carrier Testing

A type of genetic testing to determine if an individual carries a recessive allele for a genetic disorder.

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis

A genetic testing procedure performed on embryos before implantation during IVF.

Common Ancestor

A species from which multiple species have evolved.

Natural Selection

The process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Extinction

The permanent loss of a species from the planet.

Gene Pool

The complete set of genetic information within a population.

Species

A group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring.