Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

higher BIOLOGY > DNA and the genome > Flashcards

DNA and the genome Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)

A

The molecule that contains the genetic instructions for life. It is composed of nucleotides and forms a double helix structure.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

base pairing

A

The hydrogen bonding between specific nitrogenous bases in DNA. Adenine pairs with thymine (A-T), and guanine pairs with cytosine (G-C).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

nucleotide

A

The building block of DNA, consisting of a deoxyribose sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base (adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

sugar-Phosphate Backbone

A

The structural framework of DNA, formed by linked sugar and phosphate groups of nucleotides, running along the DNA strand.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Double-Stranded Antiparallel Structure

A

The orientation of the two DNA strands running in opposite directions (5’ to 3’ and 3’ to 5’).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

double helix

A

The twisted ladder-like shape formed by two strands of DNA.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

prokaryote

A

A unicellular organism that lacks a nucleus. Its DNA is organized in a single circular chromosome and sometimes plasmids.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Eukaryote

A

An organism whose cells have a nucleus enclosed within membranes, with linear chromosomes in the nucleus and circular chromosomes in mitochondria and chloroplasts.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

plasmid

A

A small, circular DNA molecule found in prokaryotes and some eukaryotes, like yeast, which can replicate independently.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

linear chromosome

A

The structure found in eukaryotic cells that contains tightly coiled DNA packaged with proteins.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

circular chromosome

A

DNA that is circular in shape, found in prokaryotes, mitochondria, chloroplasts, and some eukaryotes like yeast.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

DNA Replication

A

The process by which a DNA molecule is copied to produce two identical DNA molecules.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

DNA Polymerase

A

An enzyme that adds nucleotides to the growing DNA strand during DNA replication, using complementary base pairing.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

primer

A

A short strand of RNA or DNA that serves as a starting point for DNA synthesis.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

DNA Ligase

A

An enzyme that joins DNA fragments together by forming phosphodiester bonds.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

A

A technique used to amplify specific DNA sequences through repeated cycles of heating and cooling.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Primer in PCR

A

Short DNA sequences that initiate DNA synthesis at specific target regions during PCR.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Gene Expression

A

The process by which information from a gene is used to synthesize proteins, involving transcription and translation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Transcription

A

The process of copying a DNA sequence into messenger RNA (mRNA).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Translation

A

The process where mRNA is decoded by ribosomes to produce a specific protein.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

A

RNA that carries genetic information from DNA in the nucleus to the ribosome, where it is translated into a protein.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Transfer RNA (tRNA)

A

RNA that carries specific amino acids to the ribosome during protein synthesis, matching its anticodon with the mRNA codon.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)

A

RNA that, together with proteins, makes up the ribosome and facilitates protein synthesis.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

RNA Polymerase

A

An enzyme that synthesizes RNA from a DNA template during transcription.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Primary mRNA Transcript

A

The initial RNA transcript produced by transcription, containing both exons and introns.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

RNA Splicing

A

The process by which introns are removed from the primary mRNA transcript, and exons are joined together to form mature mRNA.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Intron

A

A non-coding region of an RNA transcript or the DNA encoding it, removed during RNA splicing.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Exon

A

A coding region of DNA or RNA that is retained after RNA splicing and is translated into protein.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Mature mRNA Transcript

A

The processed RNA molecule, after splicing, that contains only exons and is ready for translation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Anticodon

A

A sequence of three nucleotides in tRNA that is complementary to a codon in mRNA, enabling the tRNA to deliver the correct amino acid during translation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Codon

A

A sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that specifies a particular amino acid or a start/stop signal during translation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Peptide Bond

A

The chemical bond that links amino acids together in a protein.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Polypeptide

A

A chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds that folds into a functional protein.

34
Q

Alternative RNA Splicing

A

The process by which different combinations of exons are joined together, resulting in different mature mRNA transcripts from the same primary transcript.

35
Q

Protein Folding

A

The process by which a polypeptide folds into its three-dimensional shape, critical for its function.

36
Q

Cellular Differentiation

A

The process by which a cell becomes specialized by expressing specific genes to produce proteins characteristic of that cell type.

37
Q

Meristem

A

Regions in plants where stem cells are found and where differentiation into specialized cells occurs.

38
Q

Embryonic Stem Cells

A

Pluripotent cells from the early embryo that can differentiate into all cell types of the organism.

39
Q

Tissue Stem Cells

A

Multipotent cells found in adult tissues that can differentiate into a limited range of cell types for growth, repair, and renewal.

40
Q

Pluripotent

A

The ability of a stem cell to differentiate into all cell types in an organism.

41
Q

Multipotent

A

The ability of a stem cell to differentiate into a limited range of cell types related to its tissue of origin.

42
Q

Therapeutic Uses of Stem Cells

A

The use of stem cells to repair or replace damaged or diseased tissues and organs.

43
Q

Research Uses of Stem Cells

A

The use of stem cells as model cells to study disease development or for drug testing.

44
Q

Ethical Issues in Stem Cell Research

A

The moral considerations surrounding the use of embryonic stem cells, including concerns about the destruction of embryos.

45
Q

Genome

A

The complete set of genetic material in an organism, including all of its genes and non-coding sequences.

46
Q

Gene

A

A segment of DNA that codes for a specific protein or RNA molecule.

47
Q

Non-Coding DNA

A

DNA sequences that do not code for proteins but may have regulatory roles or be transcribed into RNA.

48
Q

Regulatory Sequences

A

DNA sequences that control the transcription of nearby genes, ensuring genes are expressed at the right time and in the right amount.

49
Q

Transcribed but Not Translated Sequences

A

RNA sequences that are transcribed from DNA but not translated into proteins, such as tRNA and rRNA.

50
Q

A change in the DNA sequence that can result in no protein being made or the production of an altered protein.

A

mutation

51
Q

A mutation that involves the alteration of a DNA nucleotide sequence due to the substitution, insertion, or deletion of nucleotides.

A

Single Gene Mutation

52
Q

A type of single gene mutation where one nucleotide is replaced by another, potentially causing missense, nonsense, or splice-site mutations.

A

Nucleotide Substitution

53
Q

A nucleotide substitution that results in a codon that codes for a different amino acid, potentially altering the protein.

A

Missense Mutation

54
Q

A nucleotide substitution that changes a codon to a stop codon, resulting in the premature termination of protein synthesis.

A

Nonsense Mutation

55
Q

A mutation at a specific site where introns are normally removed during RNA splicing, potentially altering mRNA processing and protein structure.

A

Splice-Site Mutation

56
Q

A type of single gene mutation where one or more nucleotides are added into the DNA sequence, causing a frameshift mutation.

A

Nucleotide Insertion

57
Q

A type of single gene mutation where one or more nucleotides are removed from the DNA sequence, leading to a frameshift mutation.

A

Nucleotide Deletion

58
Q

A genetic mutation caused by insertions or deletions of nucleotides that change the reading frame of the gene, potentially altering every amino acid downstream from the mutation.

A

Frameshift Mutation

59
Q

A mutation that affects the structure of a chromosome, which includes duplication, deletion, inversion, and translocation.

A

Chromosome Structure Mutation

60
Q

A chromosome structure mutation where a section of a chromosome is duplicated, resulting in extra genetic material.

A

Duplication Mutation

61
Q

A chromosome structure mutation where a section of a chromosome is lost or deleted, resulting in missing genetic material.

A

Deletion Mutation

62
Q

A chromosome structure mutation where a section of a chromosome breaks off, flips around, and reattaches in reverse order, potentially disrupting gene function.

A

Inversion Mutation

63
Q

A chromosome structure mutation where a segment of one chromosome breaks off and attaches to another chromosome, which can disrupt gene function.

A

Translocation Mutation

64
Q

The process by which organisms change over generations as a result of genomic variations and natural selection.

A

Evolution

65
Q

The process where certain traits become more common in a population because they increase an organism’s chances of survival and reproduction.

A

Natural Selection

66
Q

A type of natural selection that favours intermediate variants by acting against extreme phenotypes, reducing variation and maintaining the status quo.

A

Stabilising Selection

67
Q

A type of natural selection that favours individuals at one end of the phenotypic range, causing a shift in the population’s traits over time.

A

Directional Selection

68
Q

A type of natural selection that favours individuals at both extremes of the phenotypic range, potentially leading to speciation.

A

Disruptive Selection

69
Q

the transfer of genetic material between organisms in a manner other than through vertical inheritance (from parent to offspring), often seen in prokaryotes, accelerating evolution.

A

The transfer of genetic material between organisms in a manner other than through vertical inheritance (from parent to offspring), often seen in prokaryotes, accelerating evolution.Horizontal Gene Transfer

70
Q

The transmission of genetic material from parent to offspring during reproduction.

A

Vertical Gene Transfer

71
Q

The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution, occurring when populations are isolated and undergo mutation and selection.

A

The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution, occurring when populations are isolated and undergo mutation and selection.Speciation

72
Q

A physical, behavioral, or ecological factor that prevents gene flow between sub-populations, leading to speciation

A

Isolation Barrier

73
Q

Speciation that occurs when populations of a species become geographically isolated, preventing gene flow and leading to divergence.

A

Speciation that occurs when populations of a species become geographically isolated, preventing gene flow and leading to divergence.Allopatric Speciation

74
Q

Speciation that occurs within the same geographic area, often due to behavioral or ecological barriers preventing gene flow.

A

Sympatric Speciation

75
Q

Genomic SequencingThe process of determining the nucleotide sequence of the entire genome of an organism or specific genes, allowing for comparison and study of genetic material.

A

Genomic Sequencing

76
Q

The study of evolutionary relationships among species, using genetic, morphological, and molecular data to construct evolutionary trees.

A

Phylogenetics

77
Q

A method that uses mutation rates in DNA to estimate the time that two species have been evolving independently

A

Molecular Clock

78
Q

Genes that have remained largely unchanged throughout evolution, indicating their essential role and the evolutionary pressure to maintain them.

A

Conserved Genes

79
Q

The three major categories of life based on genetic characteristics: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukaryotes.

A

The three major categories of life based on genetic characteristics: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukaryotes.Domains of Life

80
Q

The process of analyzing an individual’s genome to predict the likelihood of developing certain diseases, based on genetic markers and variants.

A

Disease Prediction via Genome Analysis

higher BIOLOGY (3 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions