RNA Molecules and RNA Processing

A set of vocabulary flashcards focusing on key concepts related to RNA molecules and processing as covered in Chapter 14.

Colinearity

The concept that a continuous sequence of nucleotides in DNA encodes a continuous sequence of amino acids in a protein.

Noncolinearity

A trait of eukaryotic genes where coding sequences are interrupted by noncoding sequences.

Intron

Noncoding regions of a gene that are transcribed into RNA but are removed during RNA processing.

Exon

Coding regions of a gene that are transcribed into RNA and retained in the mature mRNA.

5′ cap

A modification added to the 5' end of a pre-mRNA transcript to facilitate ribosome binding.

Poly(A) tail

A string of adenine nucleotides added to the 3' end of mRNA to increase stability and facilitate translation.

Spliceosome

A complex of proteins and RNA that removes introns from pre-mRNA during splicing.

Alternative splicing

A process that allows a single gene to code for multiple proteins by splicing exons together in various combinations.

Guide RNA (gRNA)

A type of RNA that directs the editing of mRNA sequences by guiding the addition, deletion, or alteration of bases.

MicroRNA (miRNA)

Small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression by targeting mRNAs for degradation or inhibition of translation.

RNA processing

The modifications that convert a pre-mRNA into a mature mRNA, including capping, polyadenylation, and splicing.

Transcription unit

The entire stretch of DNA that is transcribed into RNA, including exons, introns, and regulatory sequences.

RNA interference

A biological process where RNA molecules inhibit gene expression by causing the degradation of specific mRNA molecules.