Ch 13.2, 13.3, 14.1, 14.2, 14.4 Genetics (DNA and RNA)

Codon

Three-base sequence in mRNA coding for amino acid

Anticodon

tRNA sequence complementary to codon

Amino Acid

Building block of proteins

Central Dogma

DNA → RNA → Protein

Base pairing

A-T (DNA), A-U (RNA), G-C

Complementary

Bases pair in a specific way

Nitrogenous bases

A, T, G, C, U (RNA)

Nucleic acid

DNA and RNA molecules

Nucleotide

Sugar + phosphate + base

Double helix

DNA structure of two strands twisted

Antiparallel strands

DNA strands run in opposite directions

Replication

DNA copying process

DNA polymerase

Enzyme for replication

Hydrogen bonds

Bonds between bases

Covalent bonds

Bonds in sugar-phosphate backbone

Sugar-phosphate backbone

Structural framework of DNA/RNA

Helicase

Enzyme that unwinds DNA

RNA

Ribonucleic acid, involved in protein synthesis

mRNA

Messenger RNA carrying code from DNA

rRNA

Part of ribosome

tRNA

Transfer RNA, carries amino acids

Transcription

Making RNA from DNA

RNA polymerase

Enzyme that synthesizes RNA

Promoter

DNA region where RNA polymerase binds

Intron

Non-coding RNA section removed during processing

Exon

Coding RNA section kept in mature mRNA

Mutations

Changes in DNA sequence

Point mutation

Single base change

Frameshift mutation

Insertion/deletion changing reading frame

Mutagen

Agent causing mutations

Polyploidy

Having extra sets of chromosomes

Translation

Making protein from mRNA