Karyotype and DNA Structure Review

These flashcards encapsulate key vocabulary related to karyotypes, aneuploidy, DNA structure, and the processes involved in DNA replication.

Karyotype

A karyotype is a visual representation of the metaphase chromosomes in a cell.

Aneuploidy

Aneuploidy is a condition of having an abnormal number of chromosomes, which can be classified into various types like trisomy (extra chromosome).

Ploidy

Ploidy refers to the number of sets of chromosomes in a cell.

Nucleosome

A nucleosome consists of a segment of DNA wrapped around eight histone proteins, forming the basic unit of chromatin structure.

Chromatin

Chromatin is a complex of DNA and proteins, primarily histones, found in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells.

Semi-conservative replication

Semi-conservative replication is the process by which DNA duplicates itself, retaining one original strand and one new strand in each double helix.

Leading strand

The leading strand is the continuously synthesized DNA strand that replicates in the direction toward the replication fork.

Lagging strand

The lagging strand is synthesized discontinuously away from the replication fork, forming Okazaki fragments.

Okazaki fragments

Okazaki fragments are short segments of DNA synthesized on the lagging strand during DNA replication.

DNA polymerase

DNA polymerase is the enzyme responsible for synthesizing new DNA strands by adding nucleotides according to the template strand.

Telomeres

Telomeres are repetitive nucleotide sequences at the ends of chromosomes that protect them from deterioration.

Primase

Primase is the enzyme that synthesizes short RNA primers needed for DNA polymerase to start DNA replication.

Ligase

Ligase is an enzyme that joins Okazaki fragments on the lagging strand by creating phosphodiester bonds.