Rice Genome Engineering - Module 1 Key Terms

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)

A molecule that carries the genetic information responsible for the inherited characteristics, functions, and development of most organisms.

Chromosome

A structure composed of DNA and protein that is stored in the nucleus of the cell.

Gene

A section of DNA that encodes a specific functional product, such as RNA or protein. Genes are often called the basic unit of heredity.

Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)

A nucleic acid that participates in many biological processes such as protein synthesis and gene regulation.

Cytoplasm

The semi-liquid portion of a cell that is outside of the nucleus and within the cell membrane. It is responsible for many molecular processes.

Ribosome

An organelle in the cytoplasm that is responsible for protein synthesis.

Helicase

An enzyme that unwinds and separates two strands of DNA.

DNA Polymerases

A class of enzymes that synthesize long stretches of DNA.

RNA Primer

A small length of RNA that indicates where DNA polymerase should begin synthesizing DNA.

Central Dogma of Molecular Biology

An explanation of the processes through which genetic information is relayed from DNA to RNA to proteins.

Transcription

The process of transferring genetic information from DNA to messenger RNA (mRNA).

Translation

The process of synthesizing protein by translating an mRNA sequence to an amino acid sequence.

Codon

A group of three nucleotides in an mRNA strand. Each codon corresponds to an amino acid.

Amino Acids

Molecules that serve as the building blocks for proteins.

Protein

Large molecules that serve a diverse range of structural and regulatory functions, allowing cells to develop, grow, and maintain their environment.

Mutation

A change in a DNA sequence. A substitution mutation occurs when a single nucleotide has been replaced by a different nucleotide. An insertion mutation occurs when one or more nucleotides are added, and a deletion mutation occurs when one or more nucleotides are removed from the sequence.

Sickle cell disease (SCD)

An inherited group of blood disorders characterized by misshapen red blood cells.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

A molecular technique used to amplify, or copy, a DNA or RNA sample.

Gel electrophoresis

A molecular technique used to separate and visualize DNA fragments by size.

Gene sequencing

Molecular techniques used to identify the order of the nucleotides that make up a particular segment of DNA.