Unit 6 Biology

Transcription

the process of making mRNA from DNA, happens in the nucleus

Translation

the process of making protein from the mRNA, happens in the cytoplasm

tRNA

clover shaped, one end carries the amino acid the other carries the anti

mRNA

messenger RNA, made from DNA template strand

anticodon

complements mRNA codon, three bases long, on tRNA

codon

sequence of three bases in mRNA

rRNA

ribosomal RNA, makes up the ribosome

DNA fingerprinting

The analysis of DNA from samples of body tissues or fluids in order to identify individuals.

RNA polymerase

enzyme that links together the growing chain of RNA nucleotides during transcription using a DNA strand as a template

Exons

expressed sequence of DNA; codes for a protein

Introns

Noncoding segments of nucleic acid that lie between coding sequences.

RNA processing

The modification of mRNA before it leaves the nucleus that is unique to eukaryotes.

5' cap and poly a tail

protect mRNA in cytoplasm and tell ribosome where to begin translation

Ribosomes

translate mRNA into specific amino acid sequences

Gene mutation

change in nitrogen base sequence of DNA

Enzyme that plays a major role in transcription

RNA polymerase

insertions and deletions

are mutations that change all amino acids after the mutation

What is the purpose of transcription?

to create mRNA from DNA

What is the purpose of translation?

to create polypeptides and, eventually, proteins for gene expression

Nonsense mutation

A mutation that changes an amino acid codon to one of the three stop codons, resulting in a shorter and usually nonfunctional protein.

Silent mutation

alters a base but does not change the amino acid and has no effect

Missense mutation

A point mutation in which a codon that specifies an amino acid is mutated into a codon that specifies a different amino acid.

Epigenetics

the study of influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change; identical twins over their lives

spliceosome

enzymes that serves to splice out the introns of a pre

Gel electrophoresis

The separation of nucleic acids or proteins, on the basis of their size and electrical charge, by measuring their rate of movement through an electrical field in a gel.