BIO TEST VOCAB

Nucleus

The organelle where a ekaryotic organism's genetic material is location; the control center of the cell

Genes

Segments of DNA that code for protein or functional RNA

Trait

A distinct characteristic of an organism, which may or may not be inheritable

DNA

The carrier of genetic information present in nearly all organisms; forms a double helix

Double Helix

The primary physical shape of double-stranded DNA molecules

RNA

A single-stranded nucleic acid that contains urracil instead of thymine; can make tRNA, mRNA, or rRNA

tRNA

An RNA molecole that is responsible for transporting amino acids to the ribosome to be used in the synthesis of proteins

mRNA

A single-strand of RNA that translates the genes inside DNA within a ribosome to make a protein

Amino Acid

A molecule containing an amine group, a carboxylic acid group, and a side chain that is specific to each type of amino acid

Proteins

Biomolecules made of amino acids; a sequence of the four nitrogenous bases gives way for these to be made

Enzymes

Proteins that change the rates of specific reactions

Ribosome

A structure made of protein and rRNa that converts messenger RNA sequences into amino acid sequences with the help of transfer RNAs

Specialized Cells

Cells that are specialized to perform a specific function

Stem Cell

An undifferentiated cell that gives rise to specialized cells

Catalyst

A substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being chemically changed by the reaction

Substrate

A substance being acted upon by an enzyme

Nitrogen Base

A compound with nitrogen that forms part of a nucleotide; fundamental unit of the genetic code

Adenine

A purine base that bonds with thymine but only in DNA and uracil only in RNA

Uracil

A pyrimidine base that bonds with Adenine only in RNA

Thymine

A pyrimidine base that bonds in Adenine is only found in DNA

Guanine

A purine base that bonds with cytosine

Cytosine

A pyrimidine base that bonds with Guanine

Hydrogen Bond

An attraction between a hydrogen that is covalently bonded to a highly electronegative atom and another highly electronegative atom to which the hydrogen is not covalently bonded

Nucleotide

A molecule made of sugar, a phosphate, and a nitrogenous base; the monomer of nucleic acid

Nucleic Acid

A nucleotide polymer capable of storing and transferring genetic information

Phosphate

An inorganic compound consisting of a central phosphorus atom bound to four oxygen atoms

Translation

The process by which the genetic code in a messenger RNA is converted by a ribosome and delivers a specific sequence of amino acids

Transcription

The process in which a strand of DNA is copied into an RNA strand for the purpose of protein synthesis

Gene Expression

The process by which genetic information generates a specific protein or trait

Differentiation

The process through which a cell develops and specializes to perform a certain function

Protein Synthesis

The production of a protein molecule through DNA transcription

Complementary Base Pairing

When a DNA molecule's nitrogenous bases align with each other