DNA and Mutations

gene

a part of DNA that is in a chromosome and codes for a specific hereditary trait

DNA

deoxyribonucleic acid, the material that contains the information that determines inherited characteristics

nucleotide

building blocks of nucleic acids, has three parts-a sugar molecule, a phosphate molecule and a base (A, T, C, G)

Base-pairing rules

adenine pairs with thymine, and guanine pairs with cytosine

DNA replication

DNA makes a copy of itself

double helix

shape of a DNA molecule formed when two twisted DNA strands are coiled into a springlike structure and sides are made of sugar and phosphate

RNA

Ribonucleic acid; has different forms and helps make protiens

chromosome

threadlike structure within the nucleus containing the genetic information DNA that is passed from one generation of cells to the next

adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine

Four bases of DNA

Mutations

Changes in the genes

Mutations can be

harmful, beneficial (helpful), or neutral (neither harmful or helpful)

protein synthesis

Forming proteins based on information in DNA and carried out by RNA

mRNA (messenger RNA)

The form of RNA which is created as a blueprint from DNA; carries instructions for making a protein

tRNA (transfer RNA)

The form of RNA that carries each amino acid to the ribsome to form the protein

Ribosome

organelle that makes proteins

Translation

Process by which mRNA is decoded and a protein is produced

Transcription

the process whereby the DNA sequence in a gene is copied into mRNA

sugar-phosphate backbone

The alternating chain of sugar and phosphate to which the DNA or RNA nitrogen bases are attached