Chapter 3 - Genetics Flashcards
Adenine
One of the nitrogen bases that make up DNA and RNA; pairs with Thymine in DNA and uracil in RNA
amino acids
Organic molecules combined in a specific sequence by the ribosomes form a protein
antibodies
Molecules that form as part of the primary immune response to the presence of foreign substances; they attach to the foreign antigens
antigens
specific proteins, on the surface of cells, that stimulate the immune system’s antibody production
autosomes
All chromosomes, except the sex chromosomes, that occur in pairs in all somatic cells
coding DNA
Sequences of a gene’s DNAthat are coded to produce a specific protein and are transcribed and translated during protein synthesis
codominance
Refers to two different alleles that are equally dominant; both are fully expressed in a heterozygote’s phenotype
codons
The sequences of three nitrogen bases carried by mRNA that are coded to produce specific amino acids in protein synthesis
complementary bases
The predictable pairing of nitrogen bases in the structure of DNA and RNA, such that adenine and thymine always pair together and cytosine and guanine pair together
crossing-over
The process by which homologous chromosomes partially wrap around each other and exchange genetic information during meiosis
cytoplasm
The jellylike substance inside the cell membrane that surrounds the nucleus and in which the organelles are suspended
cytosine
One of the nitrogen bases that make up DNA and RNA; it pairs with guanine
diploid
A cell that has a full complement of paired chromosomes
epigenetic
Refers to chemical changes in the genome affecting how the underlying DNA is used in production of proteins, but without altering the DNA sequences
essential amino acids
Those amino acids that cannot be synthesized in the body; they must be supplied by the diet
gametes
Sexual reproductive cells, ova, and sperm, that have a haploid number of chromosomes and that can unite with a gamete of the opposite type to form a new organism
genome
The complete set of genetic information for an organism or species that represents all the inheritable traits
genomics
The branch of genetics that studies species’ genomes
guanine
One of the nitrogen bases that make up DNA and RNA; it pairs with cytosine
haplogroups
A large set of haplotypes, such as the y chromosome or mitochondrial DNA, that may be used to define a population