The Nature of the Gene and the Genome

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts related to genes, DNA structure, and genome complexity based on lecture notes.

Gene

Discrete factors that are maintained throughout the life of an organism and passed on to its progeny.

Chromosome

Physical carrier of genes, consisting of DNA and associated proteins.

DNA

The genetic material in all organisms, composed of nucleotides.

Nucleotide

The building block of DNA consisting of a phosphate, deoxyribose, and a nitrogenous base.

Pyrimidine

A type of nitrogenous base in DNA, including thymine (T) and cytosine (C).

Purine

A type of nitrogenous base in DNA, including adenine (A) and guanine (G).

Chargaff's Rules

Adenine equals thymine, cytosine equals guanine in the DNA molecule.

Watson-Crick Model

The double helix structure of DNA composed of two chains of nucleotides.

Transposable Elements

Genetic elements capable of moving around the genome, also called jumping genes.

Polyploidization

The process of whole-genome duplication leading to offspring with more than two chromosome homologues.

Genome

The unique collective body of the genetic material of an organism.

Denaturation

The process of separating DNA double helices into two strands by heating.

Reannealing

The process where single-stranded DNA molecules reassociate with correct base pairing.

SINEs

Short interspersed elements in DNA that do not code for proteins.

LINEs

Long interspersed elements in DNA that may lack coding functions.

Non-repeated DNA Sequences

Single-copy DNA sequences that code for the majority of proteins.

Transposons

Transposable elements in bacteria that encode a protein called transposase, facilitating their movement.