Genetics and Cell Biology Review 1-5

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to genetics and the cell cycle concepts.

Genotype

The genetic makeup of an organism.

Phenotype

The physical display of traits, such as curly hair.

Transcription

The process of copying a gene's DNA sequence into mRNA.

mRNA

Messenger RNA that carries the blueprint for protein synthesis.

tRNA

Transfer RNA that delivers the correct amino acid to the ribosome.

rRNA

Ribosomal RNA that is a major component of ribosomes where protein synthesis occurs.

Post-transcriptional modification

The process that pre-mRNA undergoes before leaving the nucleus, including the addition of a nucleotide cap and a poly-A tail.

Introns

Non-coding sequences of RNA that are removed during RNA processing.

Exons

Coding sequences of RNA that are expressed in the final mRNA.

Diploid (2n)

A cell that contains two sets of chromosomes, represented in humans as 46 chromosomes.

Haploid (n)

A cell that contains one set of chromosomes, represented in humans as 23 chromosomes.

Mitosis

The process that separates chromosome copies into two daughter cells.

Cytokinesis

The division of the cytoplasm that occurs at the end of mitosis.

Cell cycle

A series of stages from the first division of a eukaryotic cell to the time the resulting daughter cells divide.

Initiation

The first step in transcription where RNA polymerase binds to the promoter region.

Elongation

The second stage of transcription where RNA polymerase synthesizes mRNA by adding nucleotides.

Termination

The final stage of transcription where RNA polymerase reaches the terminator region.