Genetics and Molecular Biology

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary and concepts related to genetics, molecular biology, and genetic engineering.

Adenine (A)

One of the four bases in DNA that pairs with Thymine (T).

Cytosine (C)

A base in DNA that pairs with Guanine (G).

Chromosome pairs in humans

22 pairs of autosomes and 1 pair of sex chromosomes.

Alleles

Different forms of a gene that exist for a particular trait.

Genotype

The genetic makeup of an organism, represented by letters such as I^B I^B.

Phenotype

The physical expression of a genotype or characteristics of an organism.

Incomplete dominance

A genetic situation in which one allele does not completely dominate another, resulting in a new phenotype.

The Human Genome Project

A project that mapped the location of almost every gene found on human chromosomes.

Allele definition

A variant or variation of a specific gene.

Restriction enzyme

A molecule that cuts DNA at specific sites and creates sticky ends.

Genetic engineering

The direct manipulation of an organism's genes using biotechnology.

Gene cloning

The use of bacteria and yeast to produce massive amounts of proteins like insulin.

Therapeutic cloning

Cloning of tissue for drug testing or tissue transplants.

Reproductive cloning

Cloning methods used to produce agricultural animals with desirable traits.

James Watson & Francis Crick

Scientists who built an accurate model of DNA.

Erwin Chargaff

Discovered the base pairing rules of DNA.

Rosalind Franklin

Used X-ray crystallography to determine the shape of DNA.

David Suzuki

A genetics professor known for his work and TV series on genetics.

Svante Paabo

Won a Nobel Prize for sequencing Neanderthal DNA.

Gregor Mendel

Monk who researched patterns of inheritance using pea plants.

William Punnett

Created the Punnett square for predicting genotype probabilities.

DNA polymer

A nucleic acid polymer made of nucleotides.

Phosphate group

A part of the DNA nucleotide structure represented by a circle.

Deoxyribose sugar

The five-carbon sugar molecule in DNA, represented by a pentagon.

Base pairs in DNA

Adenine pairs with Thymine, and Cytosine pairs with Guanine.

Complementary DNA sequence

The sequence formed by pairing nitrogen bases according to base pairing rules.

Thymine (T)

A DNA base that is replaced by Uracil (U) in RNA.

Privacy concerns with DNA data

Potential exposure of personal health and genetic information.

Discrimination due to DNA data

Unfair treatment based on genetic information by employers or insurers.

Epigenetics

The study of how external factors can affect gene expression without altering DNA.

Chemical tags in DNA

Methyl groups that can turn genes on or off, affecting phenotype.

Effects of bullying on DNA

Long-term psychological stress leading to epigenetic changes.

Next generation impacts of bullying

Potential genetic changes passed down to offspring due to stress experiences.

Insulin production via cloning

Cloning used to make insulin for people with diabetes.

Research on cloned cells

Cloning is used to test new medicines and aids in organ regrowth.

Sticky ends

Short, single-stranded sequences at the ends of a DNA fragment created by restriction enzymes.

Mendelian genetics

The study of inheritance patterns established by Gregor Mendel.

Punnett square

A diagram used to predict the genotypes of a genetic cross.

Genetic disorders

Hereditary conditions caused by mutations in genes.

Autosomes

Chromosomes that do not determine sex; humans have 22 pairs of autosomes.

Sex chromosomes

Chromosomes that determine an individual's sex; humans have one pair.

Blood type I^B I^B

Genotype representing blood type AB.

Y-linked disorder

A genetic condition passed from father to son.

Transcription

The process of copying a gene's DNA sequence to make mRNA.

Translation

The process of decoding mRNA to synthesize proteins.

Gene expression

The process through which information from a gene is used to create a functional product.

Genetic variation

Diversity in gene frequencies in a population.

Gene therapy

An experimental technique that uses genes to treat or prevent disease.

Biotechnology

The use of living systems and organisms to develop products.

DNA fingerprinting

A technique used to identify individuals based on unique patterns in their DNA.