DNA and Heredity Flashcards
adenine
A chemical compound that is used to make one of the building blocks of DNA and RNA
amino acid
molecules that combine to form proteins
anticodon
a triplet of nucleotide bases in transfer RNA that identifies the amino acid carried
cell types
the basic functional units of an organism
cell differentiation
the process in which cells from the same source gradually produce cell groups with different morphological structures and functional characteristics
chromosome
A structure found inside the nucleus of a cell
codon
a sequence of three nucleotide bases/letters in a DNA or RNA strand, that is a part of the genetic code
cytoplasm
The fluid inside a cell but outside the cell’s nucleus
cytosine
A chemical compound that is used to make one of the building blocks of DNA and RNA
deoxyribose
a pentose sugar important in the formation of DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA
a molecule that contains the genetic code that is unique to every individual
double helix
the arrangement in space of DNA that resembles a spirally twisted ladder with the sides made up of the sugar and phosphate units
endoplasmic reticulum
a network of membranes inside a cell through which proteins and other molecules move.
enzyme
proteins that help speed up metabolism, or the chemical reactions in our bodies
gene
The basic unit of heredity passed from parent to child
Golgi apparatus
A stack of small flat sacs formed by membranes inside the cell’s cytoplasm
guanine
A chemical compound that is used to make one of the building blocks of DNA and RNA
hydrogen bond
an attraction between two atoms that already participate in other chemical bonds
mRNA
A type of RNA found in cells
mutation
Any change in the DNA sequence of a cell.
nitrogenous base
a molecule that contains nitrogen and has the chemical properties of a base
nuclear membrane
a double layer that encloses the cell’s nucleus, where the chromosomes reside
nucleic acid
large biomolecules that play essential roles in all cells and viruses
nucleotide
the basic building block of nucleic acids (RNA and DNA).
nucleus
the structure in a cell that contains the chromosomes
peptide bond
a covalent bond that links amino acids together to form a protein
phosphate group
A functional group characterized by a phosphorus atom bonded to four oxygen atoms
polypeptides
a chain of amino acids
protein synthesis
the process in which cells make proteins.
ribose
a sugar that has five carbon atoms and five oxygen atoms in each molecule and is part of RNA
ribosome
the cellular machinery responsible for making proteins
RNA
a molecule that is present in the majority of living organisms and viruses.
rRNA
ribosomal RNA (rRNA), molecule in cells that forms part of the protein-synthesizing organelle known as a ribosome
start codon
the first base in the 5′-flanking region of a gene where the process of transcription begins, initiating the translation of genetic information into proteins
stop codon
a codon (nucleotide triplet within messenger RNA) that signals the termination of the translation process of the current protein.
thymine
A chemical compound that is used to make one of the building blocks of DNA
transcription
the process of making an RNA copy of a gene’s DNA sequence
translation
a rendering from one language into another
tRNA
a small RNA molecule that functions as an adapter in protein synthesis by carrying specific amino acids to the ribosome
uracil
A chemical compound that is used to make one of the building blocks of RNA.
vesicle
A small sac formed by a membrane and filled with liquid
