DNA Terms

Anticodon: is a sequence of three bases found on a molecule called tRNA. It pairs with a matching sequence of three bases on mRNA during protein synthesis.

Bacteriophage: a type of virus that infects and replicates within bacteria, made up of genetic material, either DNA or RNA, enclosed in a protein coat. 

Codon: a sequence of three nucleotides in DNA or RNA that corresponds to a specific amino acid or a stop signal during protein synthesis. 

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) is a molecule that carries genetic instructions used in the growth, development, functioning, and reproduction of all known living organisms. - Double Helix Shape

DNA Polymerases: Enzymes that create DNA molecules by assembling nucleotides, the building blocks of DNA. 

DNA Replication: The process by which a DNA molecule makes a copy of itself. 

Double Helix: The shape of DNA molecules resembles a twisted ladder. The sides are made of sugar and phosphate, and the rings are made of nitrogenous bases. 

Exons: Sections of a gene that are expressed in the final mRNA product - they code for a protein 

Introns: non-coding sections of a gene that are removed during RNA splicing 

Messenger RNA (mRNA): a type of RNA that carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosomes, where proteins are synthesized. 

Mutagens: Agents, such as chemicals or radiation, that cause mutations in DNA. 

Mutations: a change in the DNA sequence that can lead to changes in a gene function or expression. 

Nitrogenous Base: a molecule found in DNA and RNA that encodes genetic information. The main bases include adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine. RNA - Uracil 

Nucleotides: the building blocks of DNA and RNA, consisting of a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. 

Pyrimidines: a type of nitrogenous base that includes cytosine, and thymine in DNA 

Purines: a type of nitrogenous base which has adenine and guanine 

Ribonucleic Acid (RNA): a molecule similar to DNA that plays a role in coding, decoding, regulating, and expressing genes. 

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA): a type of RNA that, along with proteins, makes up the ribosomes whose proteins are synthesized

RNA Polymerase: an enzyme that helps make RNA from a DNA template during transcription. Binds to DNA, unwinds the DNA, and then reads the sequence to create a complementary RNA strand. 

RNA Splicing: the process of removing introns from pre-mRNA transcript and connecting exons to form a mature mRNA molecule

Transcription: the process of copying a segment of DNA into RNA, particularly mRNA, by the enzyme RNA polymerase 

Transfer RNA (tRNA): a type of RNA that helps decode a messenger RNA (mRNA) sequence into a protein during translation; it carries amino acids to the ribosomes. 

Translation: the process by which the sequence of a messenger RNA (mRNA) is decoded to produce a specific protein, with the help of ribosomes and tRNA 

Virus: a tiny infectious agent that can only reproduce inside the cells of living organisms. It consists of genetic material surrounded by a protein coat.