Central Dogma, Proteins, and Mutations

A set of vocabulary flashcards derived from the lecture notes on the Central Dogma, focusing on key terms related to transcription and gene regulation.

Promoter

A DNA sequence that initiates transcription of a particular gene.

Transcription

The process of copying a segment of DNA into RNA.

RNA Polymerase

An enzyme that synthesizes RNA from a DNA template during transcription.

Gene Switches

Regulatory elements that control the expression of genes in response to environmental signals.

Activators

Proteins that bind to specific DNA sequences to enhance transcription of a gene.

Mutations

Changes in the DNA sequence that can affect gene expression and protein function.

Transcription Factors

Proteins that help regulate the transcription process by aiding RNA polymerase to bind to the promoter.

Template Strand

The strand of DNA used as a template for RNA synthesis during transcription.

Nascent RNA

The newly formed RNA transcript that has not yet been processed.

Elongation

The phase of transcription where RNA polymerase adds nucleotides to the growing RNA molecule.

Termination

The process that ends transcription when RNA polymerase reaches a terminator sequence.