DNA Vocab

Process of copying a segment of DNA into RNA by RNA polymerase. Occurs in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells and cytoplasm of prokaryotic cells.

Transcription

Enzyme that catalyzes transcription by synthesizing RNA from a DNA template. Contains multiple subunits and plays a key role in gene expression.

RNA polymerase

Flashcard:

• Carries genetic information from DNA to ribosomes

• Acts as a template for protein synthesis

• Contains codons that specify amino acids

mRNA

Process of synthesizing a protein from mRNA using tRNA and ribosomes. Occurs in the cytoplasm and involves codons, anticodons, and amino acids.

Translation

Essential component of ribosomes that helps in protein synthesis by decoding mRNA and catalyzing peptide bond formation.

rRNA

Cell organelle responsible for protein synthesis. Composed of RNA and proteins, found in the cytoplasm or attached to the endoplasmic reticulum. Where translation occurs

Ribsome

A three-nucleotide sequence on mRNA that codes for a specific amino acid or signals the start/stop of protein synthesis.

Codon

a region of DNA where RNA polymerase begins to transcribe a gene

Promoter

Initiates protein synthesis in mRNA. The most common start codon is AUG, which codes for methionine. It marks the beginning of translation.

Start Codon

a sequence of three nucleotides (a trinucleotide) in DNA or messenger RNA (mRNA) that signals a halt to protein synthesis in the cell.

Stop codon

a type of RNA molecule that helps decode a messenger RNA (mRNA) sequence into a protein

a molecule that Tranfers Amino Acids to Ribosomes during protein synthesis.

tRNA

a unit of 3 nucleotides that are complementary to a mRNA codon.

function is to base pair with the codon on a strand of mRNA during translation

Anticodon

small molecules that are the building blocks of proteins

Amino Acid

a string of amino acids connected together by peptide bonds.

Polypeptide chain

made from a long chain of these amino acids, each linked to its neighbor through a covalent peptide bond

A Protein

a genetic mutation where a single nucleotide base is changed, inserted or deleted from a DNA or RNA sequence of an organism's genome.

Point Mutation

a DNA change that results in different amino acids being encoded at a particular position in the resulting protein.

Missense mutation

a change in DNA that causes a protein to terminate or end its translation earlier than expected.

Nonsense Mutation

mutations, or changes, to a gene's DNA sequence that have no effect on the amino acid sequence coded for by that gene

Silent Mutation

a genetic mutation caused by a deletion or insertion in a DNA sequence that shifts the way the sequence is read.

Frame shift

changes the DNA sequence by removing at least one nucleotide in a gene.

Deletion

a type of mutation that involves the addition of one or more nucleotides into a segment of DNA.

Insertion

a type of mutation in which one nucleotide is replaced by a different nucleotide

Substitution

A molecule that contains nitrogen and has the chemical properties of a base

Nitrogenous base

Pairs with Thymine. Or in RNA, Uracil

Adenine

Pairs with cytosine

Guanine

Pairs with Guanine

Cytosine

Pairs with Adenine

Thymine

a nitrogenous base that is a component of RNA, pairs with Adenine

Uracil

a chemical unit consisting of a phosphorus atom bonded to four oxygen atoms, commonly found in molecules like ATP and DNA.

Phosphate group

type of sugar molecule composed of five carbon atoms, such as ribose and deoxyribose found in nucleic acids like RNA and DNA.

5-carbon sugar

a pentose sugar important in the formation of DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid

Deoxyribose sugar

a sugar that forms the backbone of a very important molecule called ribonucleic acid

Ribose sugar

a self-replicating material that is present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information.

a molecule that contains the genetic code that is unique to every individual

DNA

a nucleic acid present in all living cells. Its principal role is to act as a messenger carrying instructions from DNA for controlling the synthesis of proteins

RNA

an attraction between two atoms that already participate in other chemical bonds

Hydrogen bond

One of two chemical compounds that cells use to make the building blocks of DNA and RNA, and has 2 rings

Purine

One of two chemical compounds that cells use to make the building blocks of DNA and RNA, and has one ring

Pyrimidine

The rule that in DNA there is always equality in quantity between the bases A and T and between the bases G and C

Chargoffs rule

the physical structure of DNA

Double helix

Unzips the DNA

Helicase

catalyzes the synthesis of short RNA molecules used as primers for DNA polymerases

Primase

a short segment of single-stranded RNA used as a binding site for DNA polymerase to initiate DNA replication

RNA primer

enzymes that create DNA molecules by assembling nucleotides

DNA polymearse

A,T,G,C

Free base pairs

the sequence of DNA that is copied during the synthesis of mRNA

Template strand

5' to 3'

made continuously, because the DNA polymerase is moving in the same direction as the replication fork

a continuously synthesized strand

Leading strand

a replicated strand of DNA which is formed in short segments called Okazaki fragments

opens 3’ to 5’

Lagging strand

has a free hydroxyl (or phosphate) on a 5' carbon

5’ end

nucleotides are added only to the ( ) end of the growing strand

has a free hydroxyl (or phosphate) on a 3' carbon

3’ end

an enzyme that can catalyze the joining of two molecules by forming a new chemical bond.

Ligase

What are the nitrogenous bases?

adenine (A), guanine (G), thymine (T), and cytosine (C)

Whats the difference between the leading and lagging strand?

the lagging strand replicates discontinuously forming short fragments, whereas the leading strand replicates continuously

What bases are pyrimidines?

Cytosine and Thymine (and Uracil if talking mRNA)

What bases are purines?

Adenine and Guanine

A C T G

Nucleotides

substance present in living cells, especially DNA or RNA, whose molecules consist of many nucleotides linked in a long chain.

Nucleic acid

the process by which a double-stranded DNA molecule is copied to produce two identical DNA molecules

Replication

threadlike structure of nucleic acids and protein found in the nucleus

Chromosome

cellular machinery responsible for making proteins

What is the function of a ribosome

the most powerful method for determining 3D structures of biological macromolecules, such as proteins and nucleic acids

x-ray crystallography

a sequence of three nucleotides that determines one amino acid

Triplet

an agent, such as radiation or a chemical substance, which causes genetic mutation.

Mutagen

What scientists are credited with the double-helix model of DNA?

James Watson and Francis Crick.

What scientist used x-ray diffraction to discover the structure of DNA?

Rosalind Franklin