Introduction to Genetic Analysis Chapter 1 Terms

Key Terms to remember from the first chapter

Adenine (A)

A nitrogenous base found in DNA and RNA, adenine pairs with thymine in DNA and uracil in RNA. It plays a key role in the formation of nucleotides, the building blocks of nucleic acids.

Thymine (T)

A nitrogenous base found only in DNA, thymine pairs with adenine. It is essential in the formation of nucleotides that compose DNA.

Cytosine (C)

A nitrogenous base found in DNA and RNA, cytosine pairs with guanine in both DNA and RNA. It is crucial for the structure of nucleotides that make up nucleic acids.

Guanine (G)

A nitrogenous base found in DNA and RNA, guanine pairs with cytosine in both DNA and RNA. It is important for the structure of nucleotides that compose nucleic acids.

Alleles

Different forms of a gene that arise by mutation and are found at the same place on a chromosome. Alleles can result in variations in inherited characteristics.

Blending Theory

A historical hypothesis suggesting that offspring are a blend of parental traits, leading to a mixing of characteristics rather than distinct inheritance of genes. This theory has been largely replaced by Mendelian genetics, which highlights discrete inheritance patterns.

Chromosome Theory

A fundamental principle of genetics stating that genes are located on chromosomes and that the behavior of chromosomes during meiosis and fertilization accounts for inheritance patterns. This theory links the physical basis of heredity to the transmission of traits.

Codon

A sequence of three nucleotides on mRNA that corresponds to a specific amino acid or a stop signal during protein synthesis. Codons are essential for translating genetic information into functional proteins.

Complementary

The bonding specificity of the shapes and charges of the bases (A-T by double hydrogen bond, G-C by triple hydrogen bond). The sequence of A, T, G, and C represents the coded information carried by the DNA molecule.

DNA Polymerase

An enzyme that can make a copy of a single DNA strand by synthesizing a matching strand with the complementary sequence of As, Cs, Gs, and Ts.

Nuclease

An enzyme that can cut DNA molecules in specific locations or degrade an entire DNA molecule into single nucleotides.

Ligase

An enzyme that can join two DNA molecules together end-to-end.

Transformation

Turn genes from one species into the genome of another. Becomes genetically modified organism (GMO).