Honors Biology Unit 6 – Protein Synthesis & Intro to Genetics Review

These flashcards cover key terminology and concepts related to protein synthesis and Mendelian genetics.

Protein Synthesis

The process by which cells generate proteins, involving transcription of DNA to mRNA and translation of mRNA to an amino acid sequence.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that carries genetic information.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid, a molecule essential for protein synthesis, serving as a template for translation.

Transcription

The process of copying a segment of DNA into mRNA, occurring in the nucleus.

mRNA

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

Codon

A sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that specifies a particular amino acid.

Start codon

The specific codon (AUG) that signals the beginning of translation.

Stop codon

A codon that signals the termination of translation.

Translation

The process by which ribosomes synthesize proteins using the mRNA template in the cytoplasm.

Ribosome

The cellular structure where protein synthesis occurs, decoding mRNA into amino acids.

tRNA

Transfer RNA, the type of RNA that carries amino acids to the ribosome during protein synthesis.

Amino acid

Organic molecules that combine to form proteins, defined by codons in mRNA.

Mutation

A change in the DNA sequence that can affect protein synthesis, potentially leading to changes in phenotype.

Substitution mutation

A mutation where one nucleotide is replaced by another, potentially altering a single amino acid.

Insertion mutation

A mutation involving the addition of one or more nucleotides into the DNA sequence.

Deletion mutation

A mutation where one or more nucleotides are removed from the DNA sequence.

Silent mutation

A mutation that does not change the amino acid sequence of a protein.

Missense mutation

A mutation that results in a different amino acid being incorporated into a protein.

Nonsense mutation

A mutation that creates a premature stop codon, leading to an incomplete protein.

Frameshift mutation

A mutation caused by insertions or deletions that shifts the reading frame of the codons.

Mendelian Genetics

The branch of genetics that studies the inheritance of traits based on the laws formulated by Gregor Mendel.

Pea plants

The model organism used by Mendel to study inheritance, chosen for their distinct traits and easy cultivation.

True breeding

Organisms that consistently produce offspring with a specific trait when self-fertilized or crossed with the same type.

Hybrid

An organism that results from the crossbreeding of two different true-breeding varieties.

Dominant allele

An allele that expresses its trait in the phenotype even in the presence of a recessive allele.

Recessive allele

An allele that expresses its trait only in the absence of a dominant allele.

Law of Segregation

Mendel's principle stating that alleles for a trait separate during the formation of gametes.

Punnett Square

A grid used to predict the genotypes of offspring from a genetic cross.

Genotype

The genetic makeup of an organism, consisting of both alleles for a trait.

Phenotype

The observable physical and physiological traits of an organism, determined by its genotype.

Test Cross

A cross between an individual of unknown genotype and a homozygous recessive individual to determine the unknown genotype.

Law of Independent Assortment

Mendel's principle stating that alleles for different traits are distributed to gametes independently.

Pedigree

A diagram that depicts the lineage or ancestry of an individual, used to analyze inheritance patterns.