Biology Vocab

Nucleus: The control centre of the cell

Eukaryotic Cell: Organisms whose cells contain a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles e.g. fungi, plants, and animals.

Prokaryotic Cell: A cell that lacks a nucleus (e.g. in bacteria)

Genes: A segment of DNA that controls protein production.

Sex chromosomes: Chromosomes that carry the gene that determines the sex of an individual.

Karyotype: A picture of the chromosomes arranged in their pairs.

Chromatin: A mixture of DNA and proteins that form chromosomes.

Chromatid: One half of a duplicated chromosome.

Autosome: Non-sex chromosome pair

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

DNA structure: Phosphate backbone, deoxyribose sugar, nitrogenous bases (ATCG)

Centromere: Links a pair of sister chromatids together at any point on the chromosome.

Telomere: Structures found at the end of chromosomes that prevent degradation. 

Mutation: A change in the DNA of a cell.

Sickle Cell Anemia: When a mutation occurs in the gene that codes for hemoglobin, protein is less able to pick up oxygen.

Mutagen: A substance that causes a mutation in DNA

Hemoglobin: Protein in red blood cells that delivers oxygen to tissues. 

Genetic Screening: Checks fetus for possible genetic disorders.

GMO: Genetically Modified Organisms

Recombinant: DNA, proteins, cells, or organisms that are created from combining genetic material.

Amniocentesis: When cells from the fetus are isolated and chromosomes are analyzed.

PKU: Phenylketonuria, a genetic disorder where babies lack an enzyme that digests phenylalanine, leading to brain damage.

Phenylalanine: A protein found in food

Down Syndrome: Genetic disorder where one has 47 chromosomes instead of 46, leads to an overproduction of protein.

Cystic Fibrosis: An inherited disease that causes thick sticky mucus build up in lungs and digestive tract.

Cell Reproduction: The process by which cells are reproduced

Asexual Cell reproduction: The cell reproduces from one parent, the offspring is a genetic clone

Sexual cell reproduction: Cell produced from two parents, offspring is not identical

Non-dividing cell stage: Stage for cells that have left the cell cycle, e.g. nerve cells

Apoptosis: A type of cell death or suicide.

Cytokinesis: Following mitosis, the separation of the two nuclei and cell contents

into two daughter cells.

Alleles: 

Homozygous:

Heterozygous:

Transgenic Organism: An organism whose genetic information has been altered with the insertion of genes from another species. 

Cloning: The process of creating identical genetic copies of an organism. 

Mitosis: The process by which the duplicated contents of the cell’s nucleus divide into two equal parts.

prophase the phase of mitosis in which sister chromatids condense and the chromosomes become visible.

Metaphase: the phase of mitosis in which the chromosomes are aligned across the centre of the cell.

Anaphase: the phase of mitosis in which the centromere splits apart and the chromatids are pulled to opposite sides of the cell by the spindle fibres.

Telophase: the phase of mitosis in which two daughter nuclei are formed