Biol 230 Midterm #1 Flashcards
Define: Prion
An infectious protein
Define: Virus
Infectious nuclear acid molecule in a protein coat.
Define: Malignant
Very virulent or infectious.
Define: DNA
Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid / The genetic code / ATCG
Define: Sickle cell disease
A disease that changes the shape of red blood cells. Creates a resistance to malaria, and a thickening of the blood, which causes anemia.
Define: Proto-oncogenes
A gene that dictates how a cell grows and replicates. When mutations occur, it can cause cancer.
Define: Non-coding DNA
The DNA that does NOT code for proteins. About 98-99% of your DNA is non-coding.
Define: RNA
Single Strand. Uses the nucleic acid Uracil in place of Thymine.
Define: tRNA
Transfer RNA. The initiator tRNA has an anticodon which binds to the start codon (Met). tRNA ‘carries’ the amino acids to the mRNA during translation and links to the mRNA with anticodons.
Define: Cell membrane
Semipermeable membrane surrounding the cytoplasm of the cell made of a phospholipid bilayer.
Define: Gene
Contained in DNA (the coding strand), the gene codes for RNA.
Define: Telomerase
An enzyme that lengthens telomeres.
Define: Genome
Entire set of DNA instructions found in a cell.
Define: Ribosome
Molecular Machine that reads the codons in the mRNA, from the 5’ to 3’ side, and synthesizes proteins based on the codons until they reach a STOP codon.
Define: Cancer
Uncontrolled cell divisions. Product of gain / loss of function mutations that deregulate cell division.
Define: Chromosome
23 pairs of chromosomes (46 total). One copy from mother, one copy from father. Inside the nucleus of EVEY cell in your body. Except gametes (which have only 23) and RBC’s.
Define: RNA Polymerase
The enzyme that transcribes the template strand of DNA from the 3’ to the 5’ ends, and creates a complementary stand of mRNA, synthesizing it from the 5’ to the 3’ side..
Define: Trait
A distinguishing characteristic, coded for by DNA, expressed through the proteins assembled by the tRNA.
Define: Metastasis
Development of a secondary malignant growth at a different site from the initial.
Define: Cytosine
A nitrogenous base of DNA, and a Pyrimidine.
Define: Nucleus
Houses the DNA, at the “center” of the cell.
Define: Polypeptide
Organic polymer chain of amino acids. Can make up part, or be a whole of a protein.
Define: Tumor Suppressor Genes
Normal cells, functioning to slow down cell division, repair errors in DNA replication, and stimulate errant cells to die.
Define: Dictionary of the genetic code
Table of amino acid synthesis.
Define: Nonsense Mutation
Changes a codon expressing an amino acid, to a stop codon. Ending translation prematurely.
Define: Frameshift Mutation
An INSERTION of DELETION of a base that shifts all subsequent codons. Can change many, many amino acids.
Define: Benign
Not harmful in effect.
Define: Carbohydrates
Used for energy storage, including molecules of starch, sugars, and cellulose.
Define: Tumor
Swelling due to abnormal growth of tissue, malignant or benign.
Define: Nucleic Acid
A complex organic polymer, consisting of many nucleotide monomers linked in a long chain.
Define: Nucleotide
A monomer of DNA, which is made of a phosphate, a deoxyribose sugar, and a nitrogenous base (ATCG).
Define: Phosphate group
Are part of the ‘backbone’ of DNA. Linking the 3’ carbon of one deoxyribose, to the 5’ carbon of the next.
Define: Deoxyribose
The sugar in DNA, a 5 carbon sugar.
Define: Cell Theory
All living things are composed of cells.
The cell is the fundamental structural unit of living organisms.
Cells come from other cells. They don’t arise spontaneously.
Hereditary information is passed from cell to cell.
Energy flow occurs within cells.
All cells have the same basic chemical composition.
Define: Cell cycle
Mitosis, Cytokinesis, Interphase (G1, S, G2)
Define: Proteins
A long and complex chain of amino acids.
Define: Nitrogenous bases
The ATCG of DNA, they come in two kinds, pyrimidines (TC) and purines (AG). Each pair is similar in structure.
T and A are always proportional and C and G are always proportional (Chargaff’s rule).
Explain: Central Dogma
Genetic information flows from DNA to RNA to protein.
DNA is used as a template to synthesize RNA in transcription.
RNA is used as a template to synthesize proteins in translation.
These proteins give cells their characteristic structures and functions, which in tern give an organism its characteristic traits.
Explain: Mutations
A change in the DNA sequence.
Spontaneous Mutation:
Occurs during normal course of copying DNA
Exposure to Mutagens:
UV / some chemicals (benzene) / cigarette smoke / inhaled asbestos / some viruses (HPV)
Define: Lipids
Fatty acid. Storage of energy.
Define: Double Helix
The name for the structure of DNA
Define: Amino Acid
A part of a protein, coded for by the codons in mRNA, created by ribosomes.
Define: Electronegativity
The more electrons an atom has, the more electronegative it is.
Define: 5’ and 3’ carbons
The number denoting which carbon in the sugar molecule. The 5th carbon in the chain, and the 3rd carbon respectively.
Define: Starch
A polysaccharide, which is the primary store of carbohydrates in plants. With subcategories of Amylose and Amylopectin.
Define: Monomer
A subunit of a Polymer.
eg. a nucleotide to the polymer DNA.
Define: Polymer
A macro molecule made up of many repeating molecules called monomers.
eg. Nucleotides
Define: Hydrogen Bond
A weak bond formed from electrostatic attraction from a proton in one molecule and an electronegative atom in another.
Define: Monosaccharide
A sugar made up of a single sugar molecule. Eg: glucose or fructose.
Define: Cellulose
A polymers of the monomer beta-glucose. They are found in plants, and form a grid structure.
Define: Sucrose
A disaccharide, made of both a glucose and fructose molecule.
Define: Glucose
A 6 carbon monosaccharide.
Define: Uracil
The replacement for Thymine in RNA.
Define: Structure
What a thing is made of.
Define: Concept Map
A word cloud of terms, with their relationships illustrated in connecting text.
Explain: Function
What a thing does, product of the structure.
Define: Template Strand
The strand of DNA that is transcribed during transcription.
Define: Codon
A group of three nitrogenous bases, that codes for an amino acid.
Define: Exon
The part of the DNA that codes for an amino acid, also the part of the DNA code that ends up in the mature RNA.
Define: Phospholipids
A lipid containing a phosphate group.
Define: Intron
The none coding part of the DNA, is removed by the spliceosome.
Define: Adenine
A nitrogenous base, denoted by the letter A, and a purine like Guanine.
Define: Silent Mutation
A substitution mutation that doesn’t affect the sequence of amino acids due to the redundancy in the genetic code.
Define: Pre-mRNA
The mRNA before the spliceosome has removed the interns.
Define: Thymine
A pyrimidine, and nitrogenous base. The T in ATCG.
Define: Missense Mutation
A change in the DNA sequence that affects only a SINGLE base, resulting in the change of a SINGLE codon, and a SINGLE amino acid.
Define: Loss-of-function mutation
A mutation causing a protein to loose it’s function, for better or worse.
Explain: Substitution
A mutation in which a nucleotide is replaced with a different nucleotide.
Define: s-of-function Mutation
A mutation that triggers a new structure, and as a result, function in the protein produced by the ribosome. For better or for worse.
Define: Stop codon release factors
UAA, UAG and UGA
Explain: U-ABC-IT
Use evidence
Ask questions
Be skeptical
Cultivate wonder
Identify confusions
Think like a biologist
Explain: How to Biologists Define a Living Thing?
(MRS NERG)
Movement
Reproduction
Sensitivity
Nutrition
Excretion
Respiration
Growth
Structure and Function
Explain: Size and Scale
Kilometer : 1000 meters
Meter: 1 meter
Millimeter: 1000th of a meter
Thumb nail thickness.
Micrometer: Millionth of a meter
Skin cell (30 micm)
Nanometer: Billionth of a meter
Nucleus (10 nm)
Explain: Bonding between 3 water molecules
Because water is a polar molecule, the hydrogen atoms in H2O form hydrogen bonds with the oxygen atoms of other water molecules.
Explain: DNA Structure
Double helix.
Explain: DNA to RNA to Protein
Central Dogma.
Define: In frame deletion
A deletion mutation that removes and entire codon, not affecting other subsequent codons.
Define: In frame insertion
An insertion mutation that adds and entire codon, not affecting other subsequent codons.
Define: Glycogen
A macromolecule, and a polymer of hundreds of alpha-glucose molecule monomers. Found in animals. Forms a branching structure.
Define: Allele
One of a set of alternate gene mutations found in the same place of the chromosome.
Define: Cell specialization
The proteins a cell produces, and the genes that are expressed, determines it’s structure and function of the individual cell.
Define: Point Mutation
A mutation only affecting one nucleotide in a gene sequence.
Explain: What DNA change causes cycle cell anemia to occur?
A single mutation in part of the b-globulin gene (a component of hemoglobin)
(the entire b-globulin gene is about 1600 bases long) causes sickle cell anemia.
Define: Telomeres
Repeating, non-coding sequence of DNA, TTAGGG. Protects the DNA from damage. 5k to 15k bases.
