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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
Haplotypes
A group of alleles that tend to be inherited as a unit due to their closely spaced loci on a single chromosome
26
Heritability
The proportion of phenotypic variation that is due to inheritance rather than to environmental influence
27
Heteroplasmic
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
28
Heterozygous
Refers to the condition in which a pair of alleles at a single locus on homologous chromosomes are different
29
Homeotic (Hox) genes
Also known as homeobox genes, they are responsible for differentiating the specific segments of the body during embryological development
30
Homologous
Refers to each set of paired chromosomes in the genome
31
Homoplasmic
Refers to nuclear DNA, which is identical in the nucleus of each cell type (except red blood cells)
32
Homozygous
Refers to the condition in which a pair of alleles at a single locus on homologous chromosomes are the same
33
Karyotype
The characteristics of the chromosomes for an individual organism or a species, such as number, size, and type
34
Law of Independent Assortment
Mendel's second law, which asserts that the inheritance of one trait does not affect the inheritance of other traits
35
Law of Segregation
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
Linkage
Refers to the inheritance, as a unit, of individual genes closely located on a chromosome; an exception to the Law of Independent Assortment
37
Locus
The location of an allele, or gene, on a chromosome
38
Matriline
DNA whose inheritance can be traced from mother to child
39
Meiosis
The production of gametes through one DNA replication and two call (and nuclear) divisions, creating four haploid gametic cells
40
Messenger RNA (mRNA)
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
Microsatellitese
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
Mitochondria
Energy-producing (ATP) organelles in eukaryotic cells; possess their own independent DNA
43
Mitosis
The production of identical daughter cells from an original parent cell
44
Monosomy
Refers to the condition in which only one of a specific pair of chromosomes is present in a cell's nucleus
45
Noncoding DNA
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
Nondisjunctions
Refers to the failure of the chromosomes to properly segregate during meiosis, creating some gametes with abnormal numbers of chromosomes
47
Nucleotide
The building blocks of DNA and RNA, comprised of a sugar, a phosphate group, and one of four nitrogen bases
48
Nucleus
A membrane-bound structure in eukaryotic cells that contains the genetic material
49
Paleogenetics
The application of genetics to the past, especially in anthropology and paleontology; The study of genetics in past organisms
50
Patriline
DNA whose inheritance can be traced from father to child
51
Peptide bond
Chemical bond that joins amino acids into a protein chain
52
Pleiotropy
Refers to one gene that affects more than one phenotypic trait
53
Polygenic
Refers to one phenotypic trait that is affected by two or more genes
54
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
A technique that amplifies a small sample of DNA into a larger amount that can be used for various genetic tests
55
Polymorphism
Refers to the presence of two or more separate phenotypes for a certain gene in the population
56
Polypeptide
Also known as a protein, a chain of amino acids held together by multiple peptide bonds
57
Prokaryotes
Organisms having cells with no internal compartments
58
Recombination
The exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes, resulting from a cross-over event
59
Regulatory genes
Those genes that determine when structural genes and other regulatory genes are turned on and off for protein synthesis
60
Regulatory proteins
Proteins involved in the expression of control genes
61
Replication
The process of copying nuclear DNA prior to cell division, so that each new daughter cell receives a complete complement of DNA
62
Ribonucleic acid (RNA)
A single-stranded molecule involved in protein synthesis, consisting of a phosphate, ribose sugar, and one of four nitrogen bases
63
Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
A fundamental structural component of a ribosome
64
Ribosomes
The organelles attached to the surface of the endoplasmic reticulum, located in the cytoplasm of a cell; the site of protein synthesis
65
Sex chromosomes
The pair of chromosomes that determine an organism's biological sex
66
Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)
Variations in the DNA sequence due to the change of a single nitrogen base
67
Somatic cells (body cells)
Diploid cells that form the organs, tissues, and other parts of an organism's body
68
Structural genes
Genes coded to produce particular products
69
Structural proteins
Proteins that form an organism's physical attributes
70
Thymine
One of four nitrogen bases that make up DNA; pairs with adenine
71
Transcription
The first step of protein synthesis, involving the creation of mRNA based on the DNA template
72
Transfer RNA (tRNA)
The molecules that are responsible for transporting amino acids to the ribosomes during protein synthesis
73
Translation
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
Translocations
Rearrangements of chromosomes due to the insertion of genetic material from one chromosome to another
75
Triplets
Sequences of three nitrogen bases each in DNA, known as codons in mRNA
76
Trisomy
Refers to the condition in which an additional chromosome exists with the homologous pair
77
Uracil
One of four nitrogen bases that make up RNA; pairs with adenine
78
Zygote
The cell that results from a sperm's fertilization of an ovum

Intro. To Bio. Anthro. (9 decks)

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