DNA,RNA,& Heredity

Question 1

Define Adenine

Answer 1

A compound which is one of the four constituent bases of nucleic acids. A purine derivative, it is paired with thymine in double-stranded DNA.

Question 2

Define Amino Acid

Answer 2

Amino acids are molecules that combine to form proteins.

Question 3

Define Anticodon

Answer 3

A sequence of three nucleotides forming a unit of genetic code in a transfer RNA molecule, corresponding to a complementary codon in messenger RNA.

Question 4

Define Cell Types

Answer 4

Eukaryotic cells, which possess a nucleus, and prokaryotic cells, which lack a nucleus but have a nucleoid region.

Question 5

Define Cell Differentiation

Answer 5

The process during which young, immature (unspecialized) cells take on individual characteristics and reach their mature (specialized) form and function.

Question 6

Define Chromosome

Answer 6

Chromosomes are thread-like structures located inside the nucleus of animal and plant cells.

Question 7

Define Codom

Answer 7

A sequence of three consecutive nucleotides in a DNA or RNA molecule that codes for a specific amino acid.

Question 8

Define Cytoplasm

Answer 8

Cytoplasm is the fluid that fills cells and serves several important functions.

Question 9

Define Cytosine

Answer 9

A compound found in living tissue as a constituent base of nucleic acids. It is paired with guanine in double-stranded DNA.

Question 10

Define Dexyribose

Answer 10

Five-carbon sugar component of DNA

Question 11

Define DNA

Answer 11

Deoxyribonucleic acid (abbreviated DNA) is the molecule that carries genetic information for the development and functioning of an organism.

Question 12

Define Double Helix

Answer 12

The structure formed by double-stranded molecules of nucleic acids such as DNA.

Question 13

Define Endoplasmic Reticulum

Answer 13

A network of membrane-enclosed tubules and sacs (cisternae) that extends from the nuclear membrane throughout the cytoplasm.

Question 14

Define Enzyme

Answer 14

Enzymes are proteins that help speed up metabolism, or the chemical reactions in our bodies.

Question 15

Define Gene

Answer 15

The basic unit of heredity passed from parent to child.

Question 16

Define Golgi Apparatus

Answer 16

A cell organelle that helps process and package proteins and lipid molecules, especially proteins destined to be exported from the cell.

Question 17

Define Guanine

Answer 17

One of the four nucleotide bases in DNA.

Question 18

Define Hydrogen Bond

Answer 18

A special type of dipole-dipole attraction between molecules, not a covalent bond to a hydrogen atom.

Question 19

Define mRNA

Answer 19

Messenger RNA

Question 20

Define Mutation

Answer 20

Any change in the DNA sequence of a cell.

Question 21

Define Nitrogenous Base

Answer 21

A molecule that contains nitrogen and has the chemical properties of a base.

Question 22

Define Nuclear Membrane

Answer 22

A double layer that encloses the cell’s nucleus, where the chromosomes reside.

Question 23

Define Nucleic Acid

Answer 23

Large biomolecules that play essential roles in all cells and viruses.

Question 24

Define Nucleotide

Answer 24

A molecule that is the basic building block of the nucleic acids DNA and RNA.

Question 25

Define Nucleus

Answer 25

The nucleus controls and regulates the activities of the cell (e.g., growth and metabolism) and carries the genes, structures that contain the hereditary information.

Question 26

Define Peptide Bond

Answer 26

In organic chemistry, a peptide bond is an amide type of covalent chemical bond linking two consecutive alpha-amino acids from C1 (carbon number one) of one alpha-amino acid and N2 (nitrogen number two) of another, along a peptide or protein chain.

Question 27

Define Phosphate Group

Answer 27

A phosphate group is just a phosphorus atom bound to four oxygen atoms, but it has many important roles.

Question 28

Define Polypeptides

Answer 28

Peptides are short chains of amino acids linked by peptide bonds.

Question 29

Define Protein Synthesis

Answer 29

The formation of a peptide bond between the carboxyl group at the end of a growing polypeptide chain and a free amino group on an incoming amino acid.

Question 30

Define Ribose

Answer 30

A nutritional supplement purported to reduce fatigue and improve athletic performance.

Question 31

Define Ribosome

Answer 31

A ribosome is the cellular machinery responsible for making proteins.

Question 32

Define RNA

Answer 32

Ribonucleic acid (abbreviated RNA) is a nucleic acid present in all living cells that has structural similarities to DNA.

Question 33

Define rRNA

Answer 33

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA), molecule in cells that forms part of the protein-synthesizing organelle known as a ribosome and that is exported to the cytoplasm to help translate the information in messenger RNA (mRNA) into protein.

Question 34

Define Start Codon

Answer 34

The codon AUG is called the START codon as it the first codon in the transcribed mRNA that undergoes translation.

Question 35

Define Stop Codon

Answer 35

A stop codon is a sequence of three nucleotides (a trinucleotide) in DNA or messenger RNA (mRNA) that signals a halt to protein synthesis in the cell.

Question 36

Define Thymine

Answer 36

Thymine (T) is one of the four nucleotide bases in DNA, with the other three being adenine (A), cytosine (C) and guanine (G). Within a double-stranded DNA molecule, thymine bases on one strand pair with adenine bases on the opposite strand. The sequence of the four nucleotide bases encodes DNA’s information.

Question 37

Define Transcription

Answer 37

The process by which a cell makes an RNA copy of a piece of DNA.

Question 38

Define Translation

Answer 38

The process by which a cell makes proteins using the genetic information carried in messenger RNA (mRNA).

Question 39

Define tRNA

Answer 39

A small RNA molecule that plays a key role in protein synthesis.

Question 40

Define Uracil

Answer 40

One of the four nucleotide bases in RNA.

Question 41

Define Vesicle

Answer 41

A small fluid-filled bladder, sac, cyst, or vacuole within the body.
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