Central Dogma and Transcription Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering the basics of the Central Dogma, gene structure, the stages and components of transcription, and differences between prokaryotes and eukaryotes based on lecture notes.

Central Dogma

The framework describing the flow of genetic information in biology: a DNA sequence (gene) is transcribed into an mRNA sequence, which is then translated into a protein amino acid sequence (primary structure).

Genome

All the genetic information of an organism.

Gene

A segment of DNA within a chromosome that codes for a product, usually a protein, polypeptide, or RNA.

Human Genome Protein-Coding Content

The portion of the human genome that codes for protein, which is only about 1.5%.

Viral Content in Human Genome

The portion of the human genome derived from viruses, which accounts for 8%.

Transcription

The first step in expressing a gene, where RNA polymerase builds an RNA molecule complementary to a gene's DNA template strand.

RNA Polymerase

The enzyme that binds to DNA, unzips it, and catalyzes the addition of complementary RNA nucleotides to build an RNA strand during transcription.

Initiation

The first stage of transcription, where RNA polymerase binds to the DNA and inserts itself into the DNA at the beginning of the gene with the help of general transcription factors.

Promoter

A non-coding DNA sequence located in front of a gene where general transcription factors bind to help insert RNA polymerase.

General Transcription Factors

Proteins that bind to the promoter region of DNA to help insert RNA polymerase into the DNA at the beginning of a gene.

Elongation

The stage of transcription in which RNA polymerase travels down the DNA template strand and catalyzes the addition of RNA nucleotides one by one to synthesize a complementary RNA strand.

Template Strand Reading Direction

The direction in which RNA polymerase reads the DNA template strand during transcription, which is from 3' to 5'.

Termination

The final stage of transcription, where a terminator sequence after the gene causes the synthesized RNA strand to exit and RNA polymerase to fall off the DNA.

Coding Strand

Also known as the sense or non-template strand; it has the same base sequence as mRNA (except containing T instead of U) and is NOT read by RNA polymerase.

Template Strand

Also known as the anti-sense or non-coding strand; it has the complementary sequence to mRNA and IS read by RNA polymerase.

Prokaryotes

Organisms (including bacteria and archaea) that are smaller, simpler, lack a nucleus, and lack complex organelles such as mitochondria and chloroplasts.

Eukaryotes

Organisms (including some single cells and all multicellular organisms) that evolved from prokaryotic ancestors and possess a membrane-bound nucleus and complex organelles.

Endosymbiosis

The evolutionary process in which eukaryotes are thought to have evolved from an Archaea-like ancestor that engulfed bacteria, which later became mitochondria and chloroplasts.