BIO - Genetic Material and Cell Structures Quest

DNA

deoxyribonucleic acid

directs the activity of the cell, contains genetic instructions, genetic characteristics passed onto new cells or offspring

sugar phosphate backbone

5 carbon sugar

phosphate group

nitrogenous base - adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine

double helix, hard copy (can’t destroy)

Protein

determine traits, molecules that make up structures and carry out most functions

allow for movement (actin for muscle contraction

provide structure and support (melanin - skin, eye, hair color pigment

move substance around the body (hemoglobin carries oxygen in RBC)

involved in speeding up chemical reactions (lactase - digestive enzyme)

regulate cell division

form hormones that coordinate body functions

Offspring

a new organism produced from one or more parents

Gene

part of a chromosome/DNA that codes for a specific trait or function.

segments of DNA with specific nucleotide sequences (instructions) containing info about specific traits

ex. eye colour gene (green or brown), hair shape gene (curly or straight)

unit of heredity

different genes have different nucleotide sequences

Nucleotide

repeating units (monomers) of each strand of DNA

consists of a phosphate group, sugar, and base (adenine, thymine, cytosine, or guanine)

Golgi Apparatus

packaging and distributing molecules in the cell

vesicles merge with the Golgi and the contents (ex. protein) are modified within before being shipped out as a vesicle

Mitochondria

carries out the process of cellular respiration to produce ATP/energy, needs oxygen
known as the powerhouse of the celland plays a key role in regulating cell metabolism.

Heredity

traits passed from parent to offspring

Organism

living thing

Chromatin

threadlike strands of DNA in uncondensed form, made up of DNA and proteins

found in the nucleus of a cell, synthesis phase of interphase

Chromosome

when cell divides DNA coils tightly around proteins

contains thousands of genes, condensed structure of chromatin found in the nucleus containing DNA

23 pairs of DNA in humans (46 - 23 from mom, 23 from dad)

Prokaryote

unicellular organism

bacteria, yeast (fungus), amoeba (protist)

Eukaryote

multicellular organism (specialized cells) with complex cells containing membrane-bound organelles,

plants, animals, fungus

RNA

tibonucleic acid

repeating nucleotides, contains ribose sugar, one strand, has uracil instead of thymine, messenger

similarities : nucleic acids, in nucleus

ribosomes make proteins using RNA, a molecule that takes the message of a specific gene sequence from DNA

RNA can leave the nucleus unlike DNA

allows ribosomes to make certain proteins

Nucleus

the control center of a cell containing genetic material (DNA), responsible for regulating cellular activities.

eukaryotes have DNA within the nucleus surrounded by a nuclear membrane

Lysosome

digestive vesicles

contain enzymes to breakdown molecules (nucleic acids, lipids, proteins, carbohydrates)

old cell parts are digested, molecules are recycled and room for new cell parts are made

Chloroplast

photosynthesis takes place here

organism can make their own food with this

contains chlorophyll pigment

Genetics

the field of biology that involves the study of heredity and variation

Cell

the basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms, capable of carrying out life processes.

(all cells come from pre-existing cells and all living things are made of one or more cells)

Cytoplasm

gel-like fluid of the cell that contains water, salts, and molecules

Cell membrane

thin semi permeable layer that allows/rejects materials to pass through the cell. protects cell from outside environment

Ribosomes

use the genetic information to make proteins

use RNA molecule to take message from DNA, so that they can interpret the code to make proteins (using the help of amino acids - building blocks of protein)

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

contains ribosomes and is used for making proteins

proteins are packaged into vesicles and are sent to the golgi apparatus, which are then sent to the cell membrane

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum

does not contain ribosomes

involved in creating lipids (fats) for the cell membrane and carbohydrates

in the liver it is involved in detoxifying drugs; in other cells it makes hormones

Vesicle

proteins packaged into vesicles (a package and membrane containing cytoplasm)

vesicles that store items in the cell are known as vacuoles

Cell wall

provides protection and support for plant cells

Large central vacuole

stores water, sugars, and pigments in a plant cell

Complementary base pairing

pairings of nucleotide bases on opposite strands of DNA

adenine with thymine, cytosine with guanine

Cell respiration (equation)

C6H12O6 + O2 → CO2 + H2O + energy

allele

one of two or more forms of a gene, different versions/alleles of a gene can result in different traits

ex. curly hair and straight hair are alleles of the hair gene, could contain one small difference in code (change of base)

photosynthesis (equation)

6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight → C6H12O6 + 6O2

expression (of a gene)

production of a protein from a gene

How many chromosomes do humans have? How many do they get from each parent?

46, 23 from mom, 23 from dad

What is the relationship between genes, traits, and DNA

What is the relationship between chromosomes, chromatin, and DNA

How is DNA responsible for passing on traits from parent to offspring

Structures all cells have in common and why they are necessary

How does RNA compare to DNA

How is a protein made in a cell? What structures are involved?

Give an example of two different alleles for a gene. What makes the alleles different

How does a DNA mutation (change in DNA) impact a protein?

sickle cell anemia