2C - Genes Flashcards
transcription
The process whereby a sequence of DNA is used as a template to produce a complementary sequence of mRNA.
translation
The process where an mRNA sequence is read to produce a corresponding amino acid sequence to build a polypeptide.
genetic code
The set of rules by which information is encoded in genetic material.
triplet
The sequence of three nucleotides in DNA coding for one amino acid.
codon
The sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA coding for one amino acid.
start codon
The sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that signals the start of translation (Methionine, AUG).
stop codon
The sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that signals the end of translation (UAA, UAG, and UGA).
promoter
The sequence of DNA to which RNA polymerase binds.
RNA polymerase
The enzyme responsible for constructing a pre-mRNA sequence from a DNA sequence during transcription.
TATA box
A type of promotor region.
introns
Non-coding regions of DNA that do not code for proteins. They are spliced out during RNA processing.
exons
Regions of DNA that code for proteins and are not spliced out during RNA processing.
termination sequence
A sequence of DNA that signals the end of transcription.
operator
A short region of DNA that interacts with repressor proteins to alter the transcription of an operon. Typically only found in prokaryotes.
repressor protein
A protein coded for by a regulatory gene that prevents gene expression by binding to its operator.
