The Biology of Disease

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on the lecture notes covering various topics in molecular biology, genetics, and disease.

DNA

The molecule that contains the genetic instructions for the development and function of living things.

Genetic Disease

A disease caused by an abnormality in an individual's DNA.

Inheritable

A trait or condition that can be passed down from parents to offspring.

Pedigree

A chart that shows the lineage or genetic history of an individual.

Gene

A segment of DNA that contains coding for a protein or functional RNA.

Genome

The complete set of genes or genetic material present in a cell or organism.

Nitrogenous Bases

The building blocks of DNA and RNA that include adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine (and uracil in RNA).

Griffith's Experiment

An experiment that demonstrated the process of transformation in bacteria.

Oswald's Modification

Modified Griffith's experiment to identify DNA as the transforming principle.

Hershey & Chase Experiment

Demonstrated that DNA is the genetic material using bacteriophages.

Chargaff's Rule

The observation that in DNA, the amount of adenine equals thymine and the amount of cytosine equals guanine.

Rosalind Franklin

Contributed to the discovery of DNA structure through X-ray diffraction images.

Watson and Crick

Credited with the double helix model of DNA structure which earned them the Nobel Prize.

DNA Replication

The process by which DNA makes a copy of itself.

Template Strand

The strand of DNA that serves as a model for ordering nucleotides into a new complementary strand.

Daughter Strand

The new strand of DNA that is formed during DNA replication.

Complementary Base Pairing

The pairing of nitrogenous bases of DNA and RNA where adenine pairs with thymine (or uracil) and cytosine pairs with guanine.

Gene Expression

The process by which information from a gene is used to synthesize a functional gene product.

Central Dogma of Molecular Biology

Describes the flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein.

Transcription

The process of copying a segment of DNA into RNA.

Translation

The process of synthesizing proteins from mRNA.

RNA Polymerase

An enzyme that synthesizes RNA from a DNA template.

mRNA

Messenger RNA that carries genetic information from the DNA to the ribosome.

Codon

A sequence of three nucleotides on mRNA that codes for an amino acid.

Triplet Code

The genetic code comprised of groups of three nucleotides that correspond to specific amino acids.

Start Codon

The codon that signals the start of translation (AUG).

Redundancy in the Code

The phenomenon where multiple codons can code for the same amino acid.

Stop Codons

Sequences of nucleotides that signal the end of protein synthesis (UAA, UAG, UGA).

rRNA

Ribosomal RNA that is a component of ribosomes.

tRNA

Transfer RNA that brings amino acids to the ribosome during translation.

Ribosome

The molecular machine that facilitates the translation of mRNA into protein.

Mutation

A change in the DNA sequence that can lead to genetic variation.

Allele

Different forms of a gene that can exist at a specific locus.

Diploid

A cell that contains two complete sets of chromosomes, one from each parent.

Haploid

A cell that contains a single set of unpaired chromosomes.

Homologous Chromosome

Chromosome pairs, one from each parent, that are similar in shape, size, and genetic content.

Sister Chromatids

Identical copies of a chromosome connected by a centromere.

Dominant Gene

A gene that is expressed in the phenotype even when only one copy is present.

Recessive Gene

A gene that is expressed in the phenotype only when two copies are present.

Carrier

An individual who has one copy of a recessive allele and does not express the trait, but can pass it on.

Karyotype

A visual display of an individual's chromosomes, used to identify genetic abnormalities.

Autosome

Any chromosome that is not a sex chromosome.

Sex Chromosomes

Chromosomes that determine the biological sex of an individual (X and Y in humans).

Meiosis

A type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half and produces gametes.

Crossing Over

The exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes during meiosis.

Independent Assortment

The process where different traits segregate independently during gamete formation.

Tetrad

A group of four chromatids formed during meiosis.

Spermatogenesis

The process of sperm cell development.

Oogenesis

The process of egg cell development.

Autosomal Recessive Pedigree Characteristics

Pedigree traits that typically skip generations and occur equally in males and females.

Autosomal Dominant Pedigree Characteristics

Pedigree traits that appear in every generation and affect both sexes equally.

Incomplete Dominance Genotype

A genotype where one allele is not completely dominant over another, resulting in a third phenotype.

Multiple Allele Genotype

A genotype where more than two forms of a gene exist for a single trait.

Blood Types in Humans

There are four main blood types: A, B, AB, and O.

Genetic Testing

Medical tests that analyze chromosomes, genes, and proteins to identify potential genetic disorders.

Karyotype for Genetic Disease

A karyotype can reveal chromosomal abnormalities associated with genetic disorders.

Genetic Marker

A gene or DNA sequence with a known location on a chromosome used to identify individuals.

DNA Sequencing

The process of determining the exact sequence of nucleotides in a DNA molecule.

Virus

A small infectious agent that can only replicate inside living cells.

Influenza Spike

Protein structures on the surface of the influenza virus that facilitate entry into host cells.

Living vs Non-living Virus Debate

Viruses are not considered living because they cannot reproduce independently.

DNA Viruses Examples

Examples include herpesvirus and papillomavirus.

RNA Viruses Examples

Examples include influenza virus and HIV.

Lytic Cycle

A viral life cycle resulting in the destruction of the host cell.

Lysogenic Cycle

A viral life cycle where the virus integrates into the host genome without destroying it.

Reverse Transcriptase

An enzyme used by some viruses to transcribe their RNA into DNA.

Flu Vaccine Components

The flu vaccine typically contains inactivated or weakened virus particles.

Trivalent Vaccine Composition

Contains three strains of the influenza virus.

Quadrivalent Vaccine Composition

Contains four strains of the influenza virus.

Flu Vaccine Selection Process

The selection is based on predicting the circulating virus strains.

Methods for Producing Flu Vaccine

Includes egg-based and recombinant methods, each with advantages.

What are the advantages to the recombinant method?

not requiring eggs (eliminating egg allergy concerns) and allowing for faster manufacturing.