Unit 3: Bioenergetics Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards for cell division, DNA replication, and genetics.

Mitosis

Division of body (somatic) cells, resulting in two identical daughter cells (diploid to diploid). Asexual reproduction.

Meiosis

Division of sex cells (gametes), resulting in four genetically different haploid cells (diploid to haploid). Sexual reproduction.

Chromosome

Structure containing genetic information, shortened and visible during prophase.

Chromatid

One half of a duplicated chromosome.

Prophase

Chromosomes shorten and become visible; nuclear membrane disappears; spindle fibers form.

Metaphase

Chromosomes line up in the middle of the cell.

Anaphase

Spindle fibers attach to centromeres and pull chromosomes to opposite poles.

Telophase

Nuclear membrane reappears; chromosomes begin to disappear; cleavage furrow/cell plate develops.

Cytokinesis

Division of the cytoplasm to form two separate daughter cells.

Diploid

Containing two complete sets of chromosomes, one from each parent.

Haploid

Having a single set of unpaired chromosomes.

Interphase

Period of the cell cycle when the cell grows, replicates DNA, and prepares for division (G1, S, G2 phases).

G1 Phase

Cell grows.

S Phase

DNA replicates.

G2 Phase

Cell grows and prepares for division.

G0 Phase

No change or growth.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic Acid, double-stranded helix containing genetic information in the nucleus.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid, single-stranded molecule involved in protein synthesis (mRNA, tRNA, rRNA).

Central Dogma

DNA -> RNA -> Protein (Transcription -> Translation)

DNA Replication

Process by which DNA makes a copy of itself.

DNA Helicase

Enzyme that unzips the DNA double helix.

DNA Polymerase

Enzyme that adds new bases to the DNA strand and proofreads.

DNA Ligase

Enzyme that zips the DNA strand.

Mutation

Change in DNA sequence (silent, missense, frameshift, nonsense, point).

Genotype

Genetic makeup of an organism (e.g., Hh).

Phenotype

Physical characteristics of an organism (e.g., brown hair).

Homozygous

Having two identical alleles for a trait.

Heterozygous

Having two different alleles for a trait.

Allele

A variant form of a gene.

Dominant Allele

An allele that will express its effect even when paired with a recessive allele.

Recessive Allele

An allele that will only express its effect when paired with another recessive allele.

Transcription

Process of making mRNA from DNA in the nucleus.

Translation

Process of creating a protein from mRNA using ribosomes and tRNA.

Codon

Three-nucleotide sequence on mRNA that codes for an amino acid.

Anticodon

Three-nucleotide sequence on tRNA that is complementary to mRNA codon.

Punnett Square

Diagram used to predict the outcome of a genetic cross.

Gameteogenesis

Process of producing gametes (spermatogenesis in males, oogenesis in females).

Spermatogenesis

Production of 4 genetically different sperm cells.

Oogenesis

Production of one egg and 3 polar bodies.

Nondisjunction

Failure of chromosomes to separate properly during meiosis.

Sex-Linked

Gene located on a sex chromosome (e.g., colorblindness).