RNA
(Ribonucleic Acid) Single-stranded nucleic acid that contains the sugar ribose.
Transcription
Synthesis of an RNA molecule from a DNA template.
DNA
The hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms.
Base Pairing
Consists of two complementary DNA nucleotide bases that pair together to form a “rung of the DNA ladder.”
Telomeres
A region of repetitive DNA sequences at the end of a chromosome that becomes slightly shorter each time the cell divides
Inversion
A chromosomal defect in which a segment of the chromosome breaks off and reattaches in the reverse direction.
RNA Polymerase
Enzyme that links together the growing chain of RNA nucleotides during transcription using a DNA strand as a template.
Nitrogenous base
A molecule that contains nitrogen and has the chemical properties of a base.
Nucleotide
Form the basic structural unit of nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA.
Promoter
Specific region of a gene where RNA polymerase can bind and begin transcription.
Intron
Sequence of DNA that is not involved in coding for a protein.
Exon
Expressed sequence of DNA; codes for a protein.
DNA Polymerase
a type of enzyme that is responsible for forming new copies of DNA, in the form of nucleic acid molecules.
Translation
Process by which the sequence of bases of mRNA is converted into the sequence of amino acids of a protein.
Frameshift Mutation
Mutation that shifts the “reading frame” of the genetic message by inserting or deleting a nucleotide.
Mutation
Change in the genetic material of a cell.
Transformation
Process of horizontal gene transfer by which some bacteria take up foreign genetic material (naked DNA) from the environment.
Point Mutation
Gene mutation in which a single base pair in DNA has been changed.
Double Helix
The structure formed by double-stranded molecules of nucleic acids such as DNA.
Deletion
Type of mutation that involves the loss of one or more nucleotides from a segment of DNA.
Replication
The biological process of producing two identical replicas of DNA from one original DNA molecule.