Molecular Basis of Inheritance Vocabulary

Flashcards for reviewing key vocabulary from a Molecular Basis of Inheritance lecture.

DNA Structure

An elegant double-helical model for the structure of deoxyribonucleic acid.

Transformation

A change in genotype and phenotype due to the assimilation of external DNA by a cell.

Bacteriophages

Viruses that infect bacteria.

DNA Polymerase

Enzyme that adds nucleotides to the 3' end of a growing strand during DNA replication

Leading Strand

The strand synthesized continuously towards the replication fork.

Lagging Strand

The strand synthesized in segments away from the replication fork.

Okazaki Fragments

Short DNA fragments on the lagging strand.

DNA Ligase

An enzyme that joins Okazaki fragments together on the lagging strand.

Primer (DNA Replication)

An initial nucleotide sequence that starts the synthesis of a new DNA strand during replication.

Primase

An enzyme that creates RNA primers for DNA synthesis.

Helicase

An enzyme that unwinds the DNA double helix at the replication fork.

Topoisomerase

An enzyme that relieves strain ahead of the replication fork by breaking, swiveling, and rejoining DNA strands.

Single-Strand Binding Proteins

Proteins that bind to and stabilize single-stranded DNA during replication.

Origins of Replication

Special sites where DNA replication begins.

Mismatch Repair

The process of correcting errors in base pairing after DNA replication.

Nucleotide Excision Repair

Enzymes that remove and replace damaged stretches of DNA.

Telomeres

Nucleotide sequences at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomal DNA.

Telomerase

An enzyme that lengthens telomeres in germ cells, preventing the erosion of genes.