Ch 4

Griffith's Experiment in 1928

proved the transformation principle, that orgasmisms could can acquries other componenets OTHER experiemnts would prove the stuff swapped was DNA, genetic material

• streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria was studied

Streptococcus pneumoniae

A bacterium that causes disease in humans and mice, used in Griffith's experiments to prove the transformation principle

Smooth colonies of Streptoccus pneumoniae

Bacteria with a protective capsule that protects them from the host's immune system. can infect, killed mice in griffith experiment

• dead Smooth with alive rough killed the mice. Rough acquired smooths genes

Rough colonies of strepococus pneumoniae

Bacteria without capsules that are harmless to mice.

• mixed with dead smooth, killed the mice

Transformation

The process by which genetic material is passed between bacteria, as demonstrated by Griffith.

DNA's Sugar

Deoxyribose, the sugar component unique to DNA.

Complementary Base Pairing

The pairing of adenine (A) with thymine (T) and guanine (G) with cytosine (C) in DNA.

DNA Replication

A semi-conservative process where the DNA double helix replicates, creating a template from parental strands.

RNA Polymerase

The enzyme that synthesizes RNA from the DNA template during transcription.

Codon

A sequence of three nucleotides on mRNA that codes for a specific amino acid.

Introns

Non-coding sequences in RNA that are removed during the processing of mRNA.

mRNA Modifications

The addition of a 5' cap and a 3' tail, along with the splicing out of introns, before export to the cytoplasm.

Translation

The process of converting mRNA into a protein that occurs in the cytoplasm.

Peptide Bonds

Chemical bonds that link amino acids together in a polypeptide chain.

Primary Structure of a Protein

Determined by the sequence of amino acids in the polypeptide chain.

Secondary Structure of a Protein

The local folded structures that form within a protein due to hydrogen bonding, such as alpha helices and beta sheets.

Tertiary Structure of a Protein

The overall 3D shape of a protein, stabilized by interactions between R groups of amino acids.

Quaternary Structure of a Protein

The arrangement of multiple polypeptide chains or subunits in a multi-subunit complex.

Gene Regulation

The mechanism by which cells control gene expression, determining which genes are turned on or off.

X-Inactivation

A form of gene regulation in female mammals where one of the X chromosomes is randomly inactivated.

Ubiquitin

A small protein that tags misfolded proteins for degradation via the proteasome.

Cystic Fibrosis

A genetic disorder caused by mutations in the CFTR gene, leading to dysfunctional chloride channels.

Familial Hypercholesterolemia

A genetic condition caused by mutations that result in truncated LDL receptor proteins, leading to high cholesterol levels.

Sickle Cell Anemia

A genetic disorder where a single point mutation in hemoglobin results in abnormal red blood cell shape.