DNA Vocab

Bacteriophage

Virus that infects bacteria

Nucleotide

monomer that forms DNA and has a phosphate group, a sugar, and a nitrogen - containing base.

Double helix

model that compares the structure of a DNA molecule, in which two strands wind around one another, to that of a twisted ladder.

Replication

Process by which DNA is copied

DNA Polymerase

enzyme that makes bonds between nucleotides, forming an identical strand of DNA during replication

Central dogma

theory that states that in cells, information only flows from DNA to RNA to proteins.

RNA

nucleic acid molecule that allows for the transmission of genetic information and protein synthesis

Transcription

process of copying a nucleotide sequence of DNA to form a complementary strand of mRNA

RNA Polymerase

enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of a complementary strand of RNA from a DNA template

(messenger)mRNA

form of RNA that carries genetic information from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, where it serves as a template for protein synthesis

(ribosomal)rRNA

RNA that is in the ribosome and guides the translation of mRNA into a protein ; akis used as a molecular clock.

(transfer)tRNA

form of RNA that brings amino acids to ribosomes during protein synthesis.

Translation

process by which mRNA is decoded and a protein is produced.

Codon

sequence of three nucleotides that codes for one amino acid

Start codon

codon that signals to ribosomes to begin translation ; codes for the first amino acid in a protein

Stop codon

codon that signals to ribosomes to stop translations.

Anticodon

set of 3 nucleotides in a tRNA molecule that binds to a complementary mRNA codon during transportation

Promoter

section of DNA to which RNA polymerase binds, starting the transcription on mRNA

Operon

section of DNA that contains all of the code to begin transcription, regulate transcription, and build a protein.

Exon

Sequence of DNA that codes information for protein synthesis

Intron

segment of a gene that does not code for an amino acid

Mutation

changes in DNA sequence

Point mutation

mutation that involves a substitution if only one molecule.

Frameshift mutation

mutation that involves the insertion of or deletion of a nucleotide in the DNA sequence.

Mutagen

agent that can induce or increase the frequency of mutation in organisms