Unit 1 Vocab

Core Concepts

• Gene Expression: The process of converting genetic information into a functional product, usually a protein.

• Central Dogma: The fundamental principle that genetic information flows from DNA to RNA to protein.

• Transcription: The process of copying DNA into mRNA.

• Translation: The process of converting mRNA into a protein.

• Gene Regulation: The control of gene expression.

• Cell Differentiation: The process by which cells become specialized.

Specific Terms

• DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that carries genetic information.

• RNA: Ribonucleic acid, a molecule involved in protein synthesis.

• mRNA: Messenger RNA, a type of RNA that carries genetic information from DNA to ribosomes.

• Protein: A complex molecule essential for the structure and function of cells.

• Transcription Factor: A protein that binds to DNA and regulates gene expression.

• Epigenetics: The study of heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve changes to the DNA sequence.

• Recombinant DNA Technology: The technique of combining DNA from different organisms to create new genetic combinations.

• Gene Editing: A technique for precisely modifying the DNA sequence of an organism.

• CRISPR-Cas9: A powerful gene editing tool.

• Promoter: A DNA sequence that initiates transcription.

Additional Terms

• Codon: A sequence of three nucleotides that codes for a specific amino acid.

• Ribosome: A cellular structure that synthesizes proteins.

• Intron: A non-coding region of DNA.

• Exon: A coding region of DNA.

• Genome: The complete set of genetic material in an organism.

• Genotype: The genetic makeup of an organism.

• Phenotype: The observable physical characteristics of an organism.