Molecular Genetics

A double-stranded, helical nucleic acid molecule capable of replicating and determining the inherited structure of a cell's proteins

A term used to describe the opposite orientations of the two strands of a DNA double helix

A type of nucleic acid consisting of nucleotide monomers with a ribose sugar and the nitrogenous bases adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and uracil (U); usually single-stranded; functions in protein synthesis and as the genome of some viruses.

A five-carbon sugar that is a component of DNA nucleotides

A five-carbon sugar present in RNA

A nitrogenous base that pairs with Thymine (T) in DNA and Uracil (U) RNA

Nitrogenous base that pairs with Adenine (A) in DNA; only present in DNA

A nitrogenous base that pairs with Adenine (A) in RNA; is only found in RNA

A nitrogenous base that pairs with Cytosine (C) in DNA and RNA

A nitrogenous base that pairs with Guanine (G) in DNA and RNA

Adenine (A) and Guanine (G); Bigger nitrogenous bases

Thymine (T), Cytosine (C), and Uracil (U); Smaller nitrogenous bases

A segment of DNA that codes for a protein

A sub-unit of DNA that consists of a phosphate, sugar, and nitrogenous bases

Copying process by which a cell duplicates its DNA

The organic process whereby the DNA sequence in a gene is copied into mRNA

The enzyme that synthesizes mRNA from DNA (ONLY ADDS NUCLEOTIDES TO THE 3’ END)

A specific nucleotide sequence in the DNA of a gene that binds RNA polymerase, positioning it to start transcribing RNA at the appropriate place

A region of DNA that is transcribed into an RNA molecule

A sequence of nucleotides in DNA that marks the end of a gene and signals RNA polymerase to release the newly made RNA molecule and detach from the DNA; Only found in bacteria cells

Regulatory proteins that bind to DNA to mediate the transcription of genes by RNA polymerase

The completed assembly of transcription factors and RNA polymerase bound to a promoter

A DNA sequence in eukaryotic promoters crucial in forming the transcription initiation complex

RNA polymerase bonds to the promoter and unwinds the DNA strands to initiate mRNA synthesis from the DNA template strand

RNA polymerase moves downstream, unwinding the DNA and elongating the mRNA using new nucleotides complementary to the template strand

The mRNA is released from RNA polymerase and the enzyme detaches from the DNA

A sequence of nucleotides in eukaryotic pre-mRNA that signals proteins within the nucleus to cut the RNA transcript away from the enzyme so it can undergo processing

A modified guanine nucleotide attached to the 5’ end of eukaryotic pre-mRNA after the first 20-40 nucleotides have been transcribed

50-250 extra adenine nucleotides added to the 3’ end of eukaryotic pre-mRNA as it leaves the nucleus

Non-coding segments of mRNA that lie between coding regions

Coding regions of mRNA

Non-coding segments of mRNA at the 5’ and 3’ ends of the mRNA that remain because they aid in activities like ribosome binding

The process in which introns are removed

A primary transcript can be modified to code for different amino acids based on which segments are considered introns or exons

A large complex of proteins and RNA molecules that remove introns from mRNA

An RNA molecule that functions as an enzyme, such as an intron that catalyzes its own removal during RNA splicing

A type of RNA, synthesized from DNA and attached to ribosomes in the cytoplasm; it specifies the primary structure of a protein

The process whereby genetic information coded in mRNA directs the formation of a specific protein at a ribosome in the cytoplasm

An RNA molecule that functions as an interpreter between nucleic acid and protein language by picking up specific amino acids and recognizing the appropriate codons in the mRNA

Type of RNA that makes up the major part of ribosomes

The location on the DNA where replication begins

An unwound and open region of a DNA helix where DNA replication occurs

The area where the replication of DNA will actually take place

Enzyme involved in DNA replication that joins individual nucleotides to produce a DNA molecule

Enzyme similar to DNA polymerase that binds to DNA and separates the DNA strands during transcription

An organism's physical appearance, or visible traits

Structures constructed by organisms that can influence their performance or success

Unspecialized cell that can give rise to one or more types of specialized cells

Process of making changes in the DNA code of living organisms

Rule #1: In DNA, percent guanine will match percent cytosine, and percent thymine will match percent adenine

Rule #2: Composition of DNA varies between species

Enzyme that takes apart DNA strands by breaking the hydrogen bonds between nitrogenous bases

An enzyme that joins RNA nucleotides to make the primer using the parental DNA strand as a template (Conductor)

A short piece of RNA

An enzyme that connects two fragments of DNA to make a single fragment (Gluer) ONLY ACTS ON LAGGING STRAND

Relieves strain in DNA ahead of the replication fork

Cuts out mismatched or damaged nucleotides

Caps of noncoding nucleotides at the end of eukaryotic DNA; Protects DNA from erosion

Extends telomeres in germ cells (ovary, testes)

The new continuous complementary DNA strand synthesized along the template strand in the mandatory 5' to 3' direction.

A discontinuously synthesized DNA strand that elongates by means of Okazaki fragments, each synthesized in a 5' to 3' direction away from the replication fork.

Small fragments of DNA produced on the lagging strand during DNA replication, joined later by DNA ligase to form a complete strand

In each new DNA double helix, one strand is from the original molecule, and one strand is new

The different strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae have different effects on mice; the rough strain did not affect the mice, the smooth strain did affect the mice, the heat

The molecular agent of transformation; DNA

Concluded which of the different major structures of the bacteria could be the transforming factor; Found that RNA and protein could not be a transforming factor because they transformed when different enzymes were added, but DNA could be the transforming factor because it was not transformed with certain enzymes

Confirmed that DNA is the genetic material because only radiolabeled DNA could be found in bacteriophage-infected bacteria

Men credited with discovering the structure of DNA

A small ring of DNA that carries accessory genes separate from those of the bacterial chromosome

DNA-transcription-RNA-translation-protein

A specific sequence of three adjacent bases on a strand of mRNA that provides genetic code information for a particular amino acid

A group of three bases on a tRNA molecule that are complementary to an mRNA codon

A change in a gene or chromosome

The main protein in red blood cells

A genetic disorder that causes abnormal hemoglobin, resulting in some red blood cells assuming an abnormal sickle shape

The insertion of working copies of a gene into the cells of a person with a genetic disorder in an attempt to correct the disorder

The application of technology in biological sciences

A mutation that causes one base in the DNA to be changed (Ex. A 🠞 T)

A mutation in which one base is deleted from the gene (Ex. ATG 🠞 A_G)

A mutation in which one base pair is added to the gene (Ex. TAG 🠞 TATG)

A mutation in which the order of the bases switches (Ex. GAT 🠞 TAG)

A mutation in which the bases within the gene are moved to different places (Ex. ATC CAG 🠞 CAG ATC)

A mutation in which the bases within the gene are moved to different places (Ex. ATC CAG 🠞 CAG ATC)

Mutation that shifts the "reading" frame of the genetic message by inserting or deleting a nucleotide

Any substance (chemical or radiation) that can cause a gene or chromosomal mutation

Any substance (chemical or radiation) that can cause a gene or chromosomal mutation