Biology exam #4 Flashcards
Chromosome
a structure found inside the nucleus of a cell, composed of DNA tightly coiled around proteins, which carries the genetic information of an organism
Chromatin
A condensed structure made up of DNA, RNA, and proteins that forms the chromosomes in the nucleus of a cell
Histone
Small, basic positively charged proteins in the cell nucleus that bind to the negatively charged DNA
Nucleosome
The basic repeating unit of chromatin, consisting of a section of DNA wrapped around a core of eight histone proteins
Heterochromatin
Highly coiled and compacted chromatin in an inactive state
Euchromatin
A loosely coiled chromatin that is generally capable of transcription
Active
Histone acetylation
The action a reversible process that adds acetyl groups to nucleosomes and looses the structure of the chromatin and when it’s reverse the chromatin tightens
Alters chromatin structure.
Histone acetyltransferases (HATs)
The protein that preforms the action
an enzyme that actively adds acetyl groups to histone proteins
It allows DNA to uncoil for transcription
Histone Deacetylase (HDAC)
enzymes that remove acetyl groups from proteins, which regulates gene expression and chromatin structure
Alllows the DNA to recoil
What is the composition of chromatin, the material of chromosomes?
DNA tightly wrapped around histones
Phenotype
The physical appearance of an organism, what creates the characters of the organism
Genotype
the genetic makeup for that organism
Refers to Exact pairing of the alleles
Gene
The basic unit of heredity passed from parent to child
homologous chromosomes
pair of chromosomes in a cell that are similar in size, shape, and gene content
Allele
Alternative form of a gene
locus/loci
a specific location on a chromosome where a gene or genetic marker is found
Recessive
a trait that is only expressed when an individual has two copies of the same recessive allele
Dominant
a trait or allele of a gene that is expressed even when only one copy is present
Incomplete dominance
When a dominant allele is NOT COMPLETELY expressed when the resssive allele is around
Ex. A RR (red flower) & rr (white flower) make Rr (pink flower)
Codominance
Both alleles are expressed, so they are both dominant
Ex. BB (black chicken) and WW (white chicken) make BW (black/white chicken)
Homozygous
having two identical versions of a gene, one inherited from each biological parent.
Heterozygous
A term that describes having two different versions of the same gene
Hemizygous
only one copy of a gene rather than the usual two copies
Principle of Segregation
Mendel’s Law
gene alleles, separate into reproductive cells during meiosis
Punnett SquAre
diagram that predicts the probability of an offspring’s genotype and phenotype from a cross between two parents
Test cross
an individual of unknown genotype is crossed with a recessive individual
P generation
the original pair of parents at the start of a genetic cross experiment
F1 generation
the first generation of offspring produced by crossing two different parents
Offspring of then P generation
F2 generation
the result of a cross between two F1 individuals
Offspring of then F1 generation
Law of Independent Assortment
when reproductive cells develop, different genes separate independently from one another