BIOL 130 Lecture 13: Paramecium Parlor

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to gene expression, transcription, and the central dogma of molecular biology as discussed in the lecture.

Central Dogma

The process by which genetic information flows from DNA to RNA to protein.

Transcription

The synthesis of RNA from a DNA template.

mRNA

Messenger RNA; the type of RNA that carries the genetic information from DNA to the ribosome for protein synthesis.

RNA Polymerase

An enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of RNA during transcription.

Promoter

A DNA sequence that acts as a binding site for RNA polymerase to initiate transcription.

Terminator

A sequence in DNA that signals the end of transcription.

Housekeeping Genes

Genes that are expressed constantly to maintain basic cellular functions.

Enhancers

Regulatory DNA sequences that can increase the likelihood of transcription of a particular gene.

Sigma Factor

A protein that helps prokaryotic RNA polymerase to bind to the promoter.

Elongation

The phase of transcription during which RNA polymerase adds nucleotides to the growing RNA strand.

Termination

The final phase of transcription where RNA polymerase detaches from the DNA template.

Uracil

A nitrogenous base found in RNA, replacing thymine found in DNA.

5’ to 3’ direction

The direction in which RNA synthesis occurs, growing from the 5' end to the 3' end.

Quaternary Structure

The complex structure formed when multiple polypeptides assemble into a functional protein.

Protein-Coding RNA

RNA that encodes information for synthesizing a protein, such as mRNA.

Hydrolysis of Phosphates

The process that provides energy for RNA synthesis by breaking the bonds of phosphate groups.

RNA-DNA duplex

The hybrid structure formed when RNA and DNA strands are complementary to each other.

General Transcription Factors

Proteins that bind to the promoter region and help initiate the transcription process.

Mediator Complex

A group of proteins that mediate the interaction between transcription activators and RNA polymerase.