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Intro. To Bio. Anthro. > Ch. 3 -- Genetics: Reproducing Life And Producing Variation > Flashcards

Ch. 3 -- Genetics: Reproducing Life And Producing Variation Flashcards

1
Q

Adenine

A

One of four nitrogen bases that make up DNA and RNA; pairs with thymine in DNA molecules and uracil in RNA molecules

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2
Q

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

A

An important cellular molecule, created by the mitochondria and carrying the energy necessary for cellular functions

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3
Q

Amino acids

A

Organic molecules combined in a specific sequence by the ribosomes to form a protein

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4
Q

Antibodies

A

Molecules that form as part of the primary immune response to the presence of foreign substances; attach to the foreign antigens

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5
Q

Anticodons

A

Sequences of the three nitrogen bases carried by tRNA, they match up with the complementary mRNA codons and each designate a specific amino acid during protein synthesis

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6
Q

Antigens

A

Substances that stimulate the immune system’s antibody production

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7
Q

Autosomes

A

All chromosomes, except the sex chromosomes, that occur in pairs in all somatic cells (not the gametes)

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8
Q

Coding DNA

A

Sequences of a gene’s DNA (also known as exons) that are coded to produce a specific protein and are transcribed and translated during protein synthesis

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9
Q

Codominance

A

Refers to two different alleles that are equally dominant; both are fully expressed in a heterozygote’s phenotype

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10
Q

Codons

A

The sequences of three nitrogen bases carried by mRNA that are coded to produce specific amino acids in protein synthesis

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11
Q

Complementary bases

A

The predictable pairing of nitrogen bases in the structure of DNA and RNA, such that adenine (A) and thymine (T) always pair together (adenine and uracil (U) in RNA) and cytosine (C) and guanine (G) pair together

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12
Q

Cross-over

A

The process by which homologous chromosomes partially wrap around each other and exchange genetic information during meiosis

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13
Q

Cytoplasm

A

The fluid that fills the cell and maintains the cell’s shape

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14
Q

Cytosine

A

One of four nitrogen bases that make up DNA and RNA; pairs with guanine

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15
Q

Diploid

A

A cell that has a full complement of paired chromosomes

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16
Q

Essential amino acids

A

Those amino acids that cannot be synthesized in the body; they must be supplied by the diet

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17
Q

Eukaryotes

A

Organisms with internal compartments separated by membranes

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18
Q

Free-floating nucleotides

A

Nucleotides (the basic building block of DNA and RNA) that are present in the nucleus and are used during DNA replication and mRNA synthesis

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19
Q

Gametes

A

Sexual reproductive cells, ova and sperm, that have a haploid number of chromosomes and that can unite with a gamete of the opposite sex to form a new organism

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20
Q

Genome

A

The complete set of chromosomes for an organism or species that represents all the inheritable traits

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21
Q

Genomics

A

The branch of genetics that studies species’ genomes

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22
Q

Guanine

A

One of four nitrogen bases that make up DNA and RNA; pairs with cytosine

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23
Q

Haplogroups

A

A large set of haplotypes that may be used to define a population

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24
Q

Haploid

A

A cell that has a single set of unpaired chromosomes, half of the genetic material

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25
Q

Haplotypes

A

A group of alleles that tend to be inherited as a unit due to their closely spaced loci on a single chromosome

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26
Q

Heritability

A

The proportion of phenotypic variation that is due to inheritance rather than to environmental influence

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27
Q

Heteroplasmic

A

Refers to a mixture of more than one type or organellar DNA within a cell or a single organism’s body, usually due to the mutation of the DNA in some organelles but not in others

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28
Q

Heterozygous

A

Refers to the condition in which a pair of alleles at a single locus on homologous chromosomes are different

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29
Q

Homeotic (Hox) genes

A

Also known as homeobox genes, they are responsible for differentiating the specific segments of the body during embryological development

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30
Q

Homologous

A

Refers to each set of paired chromosomes in the genome

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31
Q

Homoplasmic

A

Refers to nuclear DNA, which is identical in the nucleus of each cell type (except red blood cells)

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32
Q

Homozygous

A

Refers to the condition in which a pair of alleles at a single locus on homologous chromosomes are the same

33
Q

Karyotype

A

The characteristics of the chromosomes for an individual organism or a species, such as number, size, and type

34
Q

Law of Independent Assortment

A

Mendel’s second law, which asserts that the inheritance of one trait does not affect the inheritance of other traits

35
Q

Law of Segregation

A

Mendel’s first law, which asserts that the two alleles for any given gene (or trait) are inherited, one from each parent; during gamete production, only one of the two alleles will be present in each ovum or sperm

36
Q

Linkage

A

Refers to the inheritance, as a unit, of individual genes closely located on a chromosome; an exception to the Law of Independent Assortment

37
Q

Locus

A

The location of an allele, or gene, on a chromosome

38
Q

Matriline

A

DNA whose inheritance can be traced from mother to child

39
Q

Meiosis

A

The production of gametes through one DNA replication and two call (and nuclear) divisions, creating four haploid gametic cells

40
Q

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

A

The molecules that are responsible for making a chemical copy of a gene needed for a specific protein (aka for the transcription phase of protein synthesis)

41
Q

Microsatellitese

A

Specific loci in nuclear or organellar DNA that have repeated units of 1-4 base pairs in length; can be used in various genetic studies

42
Q

Mitochondria

A

Energy-producing (ATP) organelles in eukaryotic cells; possess their own independent DNA

43
Q

Mitosis

A

The production of identical daughter cells from an original parent cell

44
Q

Monosomy

A

Refers to the condition in which only one of a specific pair of chromosomes is present in a cell’s nucleus

45
Q

Noncoding DNA

A

Sequences of a gene’s DNA (also known as introns) that are not coded to produce specific proteins and are excised before protein synthesis

46
Q

Nondisjunctions

A

Refers to the failure of the chromosomes to properly segregate during meiosis, creating some gametes with abnormal numbers of chromosomes

47
Q

Nucleotide

A

The building blocks of DNA and RNA, comprised of a sugar, a phosphate group, and one of four nitrogen bases

48
Q

Nucleus

A

A membrane-bound structure in eukaryotic cells that contains the genetic material

49
Q

Paleogenetics

A

The application of genetics to the past, especially in anthropology and paleontology;

The study of genetics in past organisms

50
Q

Patriline

A

DNA whose inheritance can be traced from father to child

51
Q

Peptide bond

A

Chemical bond that joins amino acids into a protein chain

52
Q

Pleiotropy

A

Refers to one gene that affects more than one phenotypic trait

53
Q

Polygenic

A

Refers to one phenotypic trait that is affected by two or more genes

54
Q

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

A

A technique that amplifies a small sample of DNA into a larger amount that can be used for various genetic tests

55
Q

Polymorphism

A

Refers to the presence of two or more separate phenotypes for a certain gene in the population

56
Q

Polypeptide

A

Also known as a protein, a chain of amino acids held together by multiple peptide bonds

57
Q

Prokaryotes

A

Organisms having cells with no internal compartments

58
Q

Recombination

A

The exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes, resulting from a cross-over event

59
Q

Regulatory genes

A

Those genes that determine when structural genes and other regulatory genes are turned on and off for protein synthesis

60
Q

Regulatory proteins

A

Proteins involved in the expression of control genes

61
Q

Replication

A

The process of copying nuclear DNA prior to cell division, so that each new daughter cell receives a complete complement of DNA

62
Q

Ribonucleic acid (RNA)

A

A single-stranded molecule involved in protein synthesis, consisting of a phosphate, ribose sugar, and one of four nitrogen bases

63
Q

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)

A

A fundamental structural component of a ribosome

64
Q

Ribosomes

A

The organelles attached to the surface of the endoplasmic reticulum, located in the cytoplasm of a cell; the site of protein synthesis

65
Q

Sex chromosomes

A

The pair of chromosomes that determine an organism’s biological sex

66
Q

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)

A

Variations in the DNA sequence due to the change of a single nitrogen base

67
Q

Somatic cells (body cells)

A

Diploid cells that form the organs, tissues, and other parts of an organism’s body

68
Q

Structural genes

A

Genes coded to produce particular products

69
Q

Structural proteins

A

Proteins that form an organism’s physical attributes

70
Q

Thymine

A

One of four nitrogen bases that make up DNA; pairs with adenine

71
Q

Transcription

A

The first step of protein synthesis, involving the creation of mRNA based on the DNA template

72
Q

Transfer RNA (tRNA)

A

The molecules that are responsible for transporting amino acids to the ribosomes during protein synthesis

73
Q

Translation

A

The second step of protein synthesis, involving the transfer of amino acids by tRNA to the ribosomes, which are then added to the protein chain

74
Q

Translocations

A

Rearrangements of chromosomes due to the insertion of genetic material from one chromosome to another

75
Q

Triplets

A

Sequences of three nitrogen bases each in DNA, known as codons in mRNA

76
Q

Trisomy

A

Refers to the condition in which an additional chromosome exists with the homologous pair

77
Q

Uracil

A

One of four nitrogen bases that make up RNA; pairs with adenine

78
Q

Zygote

A

The cell that results from a sperm’s fertilization of an ovum

Intro. To Bio. Anthro. (9 decks)

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