Chapter 1-3: Intro to Molecular Biology

Cell Membrane

A double layer of phospholipids together with proteins that regulates the transport of materials entering and exiting the cell.

Nucleic Acids

Molecules made up of a five-carbon sugar, phosphate groups, and a nitrogenous base involved in storing genetic information and protein synthesis.

Proteins

Chains of amino acids that serve as structural scaffolds, enzymes, and cellular transporters.

Amino Acids

Building blocks of proteins, consisting of an amine group, carboxyl group, and side chains (R groups), connected by peptide bonds.

Prokaryotic Cells

Simple cells with a nucleoid region, plasma membrane, DNA, ribosomes, and cytoplasm.

Eukaryotic Cells

Complex cells with a plasma membrane, nucleus, DNA, cytoplasm, and ribosomes.

Haploid

The presence of a single set of chromosomes in an organism's cells.

Diploid

Containing two complete sets of chromosomes, one from each parent.

Polyploidy

An organism has more than two complete sets of chromosomes in its cells.

Genotype

The genetic makeup of an organism.

Phenotype

The visible or measurable effect of the genotype.

Wild-type

The original or 'natural' version of a gene or organism.

Mutant

An altered version of a wild-type allele.

DNA

A double-stranded molecule that contains the sugar deoxyribose and stores genetic information. Double helix, two complementary strands

RNA

A usually single-stranded molecule that contains the sugar ribose and plays a crucial role in protein synthesis. has mRNA, tRNA, rRNA

Components of a Nucleotide

1. ) Nitrogenous base 2) Pentose sugar 3) Phosphate group.

Purine

A nitrogenous base with a double-ring structure, including adenine and guanine.

Pyrimidine

A nitrogenous base with a single-ring structure, including cytosine, thymine, and uracil.

Nucleotide

A molecule composed of a nitrogenous base, a sugar molecule, and a phosphate group.

Nucleoside

A molecule made up of a nitrogenous base and a sugar, lacking a phosphate group.

Central Dogma of Molecular Biology

A theory stating that genetic information flows from DNA to RNA to protein.

Replication

The duplication of DNA prior to cell division.

Transcription

The process of copying information from DNA into RNA.

Translation

The process of making a protein using the information provided by messenger RNA.

Melting Temperature

The temperature at which the two strands of a DNA molecule are half unpaired.

Chargaff’s Rule

In any DNA molecule, the amount of adenine equals the amount of thymine, and the amount of guanine equals the amount of cytosine.

Primary Protein Structure

The amino acid sequence of its polypeptide chain.

Secondary Protein Structure

The local spatial arrangement of a polypeptide's backbone atoms.

Tertiary Protein Structure

The three-dimensional structure of an entire polypeptide chain.

Quaternary Protein Structure

The three-dimensional arrangement of the subunits in a multisubunit protein.