Chapter 9: Molecular Biology Flashcards
What’s another name for germ cells
Gametes
Based on the number of chromosomes present, cells are often categorized in two ways. List the ways.
Diploid cells
Haploid cells
Diploid cells
These cells have chromosomes that are paired. commonly known as somatic cells and make up all tissues throughout the body..
Haploid cells
Single chromosomes that are not paired. The only haploid cells are ovum and spermatid.
Genotype
The genetic make-up of an organism(sum of all it’s genes).
Phenotype
Its actual physical or behavioral characteristics, ie height, weight, hair color, and so on.
Mutation
A permanent change in the DNA sequence of a gene.
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic Acid is a polymer, composed of a series of chemical subunits(nucleotides) linked together.
What is each nucleotide composed of?
A sugar(deoxyribose), a nitrogen-containing base attached to the sugar and a phosphate group.
List the four types of nucleotides
Adenosine(A), Guanine(G), Cytosine(C) and Thymine(T)
What are the complementary pairings of the nucleotides?
Adenine-Thymine
Cytosine-Guanine
How is the backbone of DNA arranged?
Phosphate group-sugar-phosphate group-sugar
RNA
Ribonucleic Acid: composed of a long polymer of a simple sugar attached to a phosphate group and to a nitrogenous base.
What is the sugar in RNA
Ribose
What base in RNA is different from DNA and what base did it replace?
Uracil(U) and replaces thymine
RNA is _____-stranded
Single
Replication
A parent cell divides into two daughter cells, the DNA must e duplicated before cell division in order to have identical genetic make-up.
Mitosis
The process in which a eukaryotic cell nucleus splits into two identical cells, followed by division of the parent cell into two daughter cells.
Meiosis
Diploid cells in the ovaries and testes undergo a form of cell division. This results in haploid ova and spermatids
Ovum+Sperm=
Zygote
What are the two steps that allow cells to read genes and produce amino acids?
Transcription and translation
Describe the steps of transcription and translation
- The first step of gene expression is transcription in which RNA is made from a DNA template.
- The second step is translation, which is the process of messenger RNA (mRNA) being translated into amino acids of a protein; this is protein synthesis.
Restriction enzymes
Special enzymes that are added to DNA to cut the DNA into smaller pieces. Used when scientists are interested in only one or two genes.
Electrophoresis
A technique that separates a mixture of DNA pieces of different lengths.
