DNA, cell division and protein synthesis

DNA

chemical of which genes are made. Double helix composed of deoxyribose sugar, phosphates and four bases

chromosome

thread-like structure found in the nucleus of a cell, made of DNA and protein. Contains the genetic information (genes)

gene

part of a chromosome, the basic unit of inheritance. A length of DNA that controls a characteristic of an organism by coding for the production of a specific protein

base

one of four nitrogen-containing groups in the DNA molecule, called adenine, thymine, cytosine and guanine. Bases form complementary pairs linking the chains of the double helix

replication

copying of DNA that takes place before cell division

template strand

strand of DNA that codes for the manufacture of proteins

RNA

nucleic acid similar to DNA but made of a single strand, with ribose sugar and the base uracil instead of thymine. Involved in protein synthesis

messenger RNA (mRNA)

type of RNA that forms a copy of the template strand of the DNA during transcription

transfer RNA (tRNA)

type of RNA that carries amino acids to the ribosomes during translation of the mRNA

transcription

process by which the information in the base sequence of a strand of the DNA is copied into a molecule of mRNA

translation

process by which the information in the base sequence of mRNA is used to produce the sequence of amino acids in a protein. Takes place at ribosomes

ribosomes

tiny structures in the cytoplasm of cells, the site of protein synthesis