Molecular Biology Flashcards

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts in molecular biology, including DNA structure, replication, transcription, translation, and mutations.

Griffith

Experimented on mice. Transforming theory

Avery

A scientist who contributed to the study of molecular biology.

Hershey + Chase

Scientists who contributed to the study of molecular biology.

Chargaff

A scientist who contributed to the study of molecular biology.

Franklin

Took the first clear image of DNA; her image was used to discover the 3D structure of DNA.

Watson + Crick

Credited for discovering the 3D structure of DNA, known as the double helix.

Double helix

The shape of DNA.

Nitrogenous bases

A, T, C, G, which are part of the structure of DNA and RNA.

Base Pairing Rules

A pairs with T, and C pairs with G in DNA.

Codons

Three nucleotides that code for amino acids.

DNA Replication

The process of making new DNA from existing DNA.

Semi-conservative process

Each new DNA molecule has one old template strand and one new strand.

Gene expression

The process by which information from a gene is used in the synthesis of a functional gene product.

Amino acids

Building blocks of proteins, attached to tRNA to form a polypeptide chain.

Start codon

AUG (Methionine), which signals the start of translation.

Stop codons

UAA, UAG, UGA, which instruct to stop creating proteins.

Genes

Segments of DNA that code for proteins.

mRNA

Messenger RNA, carries the genetic code from DNA to ribosomes.

tRNA

Transfer RNA, helps decode a messenger RNA (mRNA) sequence into a protein

rRNA

Ribosomal RNA, associates with a set of proteins to form ribosomes.

RNA polymerase

An enzyme that catalyzes transcription.

Exons

The coding sequences that remain after RNA splicing.

Introns

Non-coding sequences that are removed during RNA splicing.

Codon

A sequence of three nucleotides which together form a unit of genetic code in a DNA or RNA molecule; mRNA GAC.

Anticodon

A sequence of three nucleotides forming a unit of genetic code in a transfer RNA molecule, corresponding to a complementary codon in messenger RNA; tRNA CUG.

Peptide bond

The bond between amino acids.

Mutations

A change in DNA.

Mutagens

Physical or chemical agents that cause mutations.

Point mutation

A change in a single nucleotide.

Substitution mutation

A type of point mutation where one nucleotide is replaced by another.

Frameshift mutation

A mutation caused by insertions or deletions that alter the reading frame of the genetic code.

Silent mutation

A mutation that does not change the amino acid sequence.

Missense mutation

A mutation that results in a change in the amino acid.

Nonsense mutation

A mutation that results in a stop codon.

Transcription

The process of making RNA from DNA.

Translation

The process of making a protein from RNA.