Genetics: Key Concepts and Regulation (Transcript Notes) 9/2/25 genetics

Vocabulary flashcards covering key genetics concepts from the lecture notes: genetic information, function, metabolism, enzymes, gene expression, regulation, differentiation, and development.

Genetic information

Heritable instructions encoded in DNA (and RNA in some organisms) that direct the production of functional products and govern biological traits.

Function

Biological activities and processes carried out by cells and organisms, determined by gene products encoded by genetic information.

Glucose metabolism

A metabolic pathway with many enzymatic steps that processes glucose to meet cellular energy needs; each step is catalyzed by an enzyme encoded by genes.

Enzyme

A protein (or RNA) that catalyzes a biochemical reaction; enzymes in metabolic pathways are encoded by genes.

Metabolic pathway

A connected series of biochemical steps, each controlled by a specific enzyme, that transforms a substrate into a product.

Gene expression

Process by which the information in a gene is used to synthesize a functional product (protein or RNA).

Regulation of gene expression

Control mechanisms that determine when, where, and how much a gene is expressed, shaping cell behavior and development.

Differentiation

Process by which cells become specialized in structure and function during development, using the same genome but regulated gene expression.

Development

The series of organismal changes from a zygote to a mature organism, driven by regulated gene expression and cell differentiation.