Acetyl	A “tag” that causes DNA to wrap loose around nucleosomes, which “turns off” the gene, causing increased gene expression.
Anaphase	The third stage of Mitosis & Meiosis where the spindle fibers pull the chromatids apart.
Antiparallel	Parallel but moving in opposite directions, the way a DNA spirals
Backbone	The structural support of the DNA molecule. Made up of alternating deoxyribose and phosphate groups.
Centromeres	The joint region of sister chromatids, where spindle fibers can attach during cell division.
Chromatid	One of the two “sister” chromatids, where identical halves of a chromosome that was replicated.
Chromatin	“Packaged” Form of DNA
Chromosome	A single condensed DNA molecule
Cytokinesis	After Telophase and PMAT over all. A cell wall appears at the center, and the cytoplasm fully splits, dividing the cell into 2 daughter cells.
Deoxyribose	A pentose (5-carbon) sugar which makes up part of the DNA molecule’s backbone along with Phosphate
Diploid	A cell containing 2 complete sets of chromosomes, one from each parent (2n).
DNA	Deoxyribonucleic Acid, a molecule that carries genetic information for a developing and functioning organism.
Double Helix	The shape and structure of the DNA strand.
Gametes Cells	Sex cells, a haploid cell.
Haploid	A single set of unpaired chromosomes (n).
Histones	Hydrogen Bonds	A weak bond between 2 molecules, but the large numbers provide crucial stability for the DNA strand. Adenine and Thymine bond with 2 hydrogen bonds Guanine and Cytosine bond with 3 hydrogen bonds
	Interphase	A phase where G1, S1, and G2 occurs, before Mitosis or Meiosis (PMAT).
	Major Groove	The wider space between the two strands of the DNA double helix.
	Meiosis	A type of cell division that results in 4 unique daughter cells, and primarily only for gametes.
	Metaphase	The second stage of cell division, where spindle fibers attach to the centromere of the chromosomes.
	Methyl	A “tag” that causes DNA to wrap tighter around nucleosomes, which “turns off” the gene, causing decreased gene expression.
	Minor Groove	The narrower space between the two strands of the DNA double helix.
	Mitosis	A type of cell division that results in 2 identical daughter cells, and primarily only for somatic cells.
	Nitrogenous Base	Adenine pairs with Thymine Guanine pairs with Cytosine Adenine pairs with Uracil (RNA only) Acronym → @ group chat (AT GC)
	Nucleosomes	Groups of proteins that DNA wraps around
	Nucleotide	The organic molecules that make up a Nitrogenous Base. (Phosphate and Deoxyribose).
	P-Arm	The short arm of a Chromosome
	Phosphate	PO₄ → A key component in the DNA molecule’s backbone along with Phosphate
	Prophase	The first stage of cell division where the chromosomes become visible as paired chromatids.
	Q-Arm	The long arm of a Chromosome
	Single Strand	Typically associated with RNA

Sister Chromatids	Identical copies of a chromosome that are held together during replication.
Somatic Cells	Body cells, a diploid cell.
Telophase	The fourth/final stage of cell division, where 2 new nuclei are formed.
5-prime end	5th carbon of deoxyribose sugar ring, what phosphate bonds to.
3-prime end	3rd carbon of deoxyribose sugar ring
Dehydration Synthesis	A chemical reaction involving removing a H2O molecule (water) from two molecules, to create a bigger molecule.
Hydrolysis	A chemical reaction where a molecule is broken down by a reaction with a H2O molecule (water).
Helicase	An enzyme that breaks the hydrogen bonds in a DNA strands.
DNA polymerase (DNAP)	An enzyme that builds the polymer of DNA by adding onto only the 3’ end because we read DNA 5’ to 3’.
Leading Strand	“Good guy strand.” Adds DNAP smoothly, because the DNAP can just follow the helicase.
Lagging strand	“Scumbag strand.” A strand that’s 3’ to 5’, so the DNAP can only add on in small sections since it can’t follow the helicase.
Ligase	An enzyme that “glues” together all the segments of DNA, and checks over the patterns.
Primase	An enzyme that lays down a small little RNA primer to get the DNA replication started.
Polymers	Repeating monomers
Base Sequence	AT \|\| GC AU (RNA only)
RNA	Ribonucleic Acid is single stranded, and has ribose sugar. Thymine is replaced with Uracil.

Biology Unit 6 Vocab