DNA - The Code Of Life Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

DNA

A

Deoxyribonucleic Acid; made up of monomers called nucleotides with the nitrogenous bases cytosine, guanine, adenine and thymine; it carries the genetic code for protein synthesis

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

RNA

A

Ribonucleic Acid; there are three types of RNA viz. messenger RNA(mRNA), transfer RNA(tRNA) and ribosomal RNA(rRNA) each of which play particular roles in protein synthesis

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

Protein synthesis

A

Process by which amino acids are linked together in a particular sequence to form a required protein

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

Chromosome

A

String-like structure found in the nucleus of dividing cells; formed from chromatin network; contains the hereditary material DNA

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

Nuclear membrane

A

Membrane surrounding the nucleus

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

Chromatid

A

Half a chromosome; the 2 halves are held together bya centromere; these 2 halves have actually been formed from one chromosome by DNA replication

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

Chromatin network

A

An entangled mass of threads found in the nucleus of cells which are in the “resting stage” I.e. cells which are not dividing; they give rise to chromosomes

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

Nucleolus

A

Structure in the nucleus in which ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is synthesised

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

Nucleotide

A

The monster which forms DNA and RNA; each nucleotide is made up of a sugar, a phosphate ion and a nitrogenous base

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

Nuclear DNA

A

DNA found within the nucleus of cells; is made up of genetic material from both parents

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

Extra-nuclear DNA

A

DNA that is located outside of the nucleus such as mitochondrial DNA in the mitochondria

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

Mutation

A

Sudden, random changes in the genetic code of an organism which can be inherited

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

Deoxyribose

A

The sugar that is a part of the DNA molecule

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

Complementary base pairs

A

Nitrogenous bases that always pair with each other and are joined by hydrogen bonds in a DNA molecule
Adenine - Thymine/Urasil
Cytosine - Gaunine

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

Double helix

A

The shape of the DNA molecule consisting of two strands joined to each other and which are spiraled twisted

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

Adenine

A

One if four nitrogenous bases found in DNA and RNA; it DNA it always joins with thymine

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

Thymine

A

One of the four nitrogenous bases found in DNA; not found in RNA; always joins with adenine

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

Cytosine

A

One of the four nitrogenous bases found in DNA and RNA; always joins with guanine in DNA

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

Guanine

A

One of the four nitrogenous bases found in DNA and RNA; always joins with cytosine in DNA

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

Weak hydrogen bonds

A

Bonds holding nitrogen bases together in DNA

21
Q

Gene

A

A small portion of DNA which carries the genetic code for the formation of a particular trait or characteristic; it also carries the code for proteins

22
Q

Non-coding DNA

A

Portions of DNA that do not code for specific amino acids

23
Q

Cell cycle

A

A series of events that occur during the life span of the cell

24
Q

Mitosis

A

A type of cell division which results in two cells which are genetically identical to each other and to the parent cell (which no longer exists)

25
Q

Meiosis

A

A type of cell division where the nucleus divides twice but the chromosomes duplicate once only, resulting in four cells each with half the number of chromosomes as the original

26
Q

DNA replication

A

Process by which two identical DNA molecules are formed from one DNA molecule; occurs just before cell division

27
Q

Interphase

A

The stage in mitosis and meiosis during which DNA replication takes place; since most of the cells life is spent in this stage, it was originally thought to be a resting stage that occurred between mitotic and meiotic divisions

28
Q

Template

A

Strand of DNA upon which another strand of DNA is built during replication or mRNA is built during protein synthesis

29
Q

Complementary strand

A

The new DNA strand that developed during DNA replication according to the template strand of DNA, using free DNA nucleotides

30
Q

Fingerprints

A

Imprint of the pattern on a finger that us unique to all individuals except identical twins

31
Q

DNA ‘fingerprint’

A

The unique pattern formed by the DNA fragments of an individual; the use of the term DNA profile is preferred to avoid confusion with normal fingerprints

32
Q

DNA profiling

A

The process by which DNA ‘fingerprint’/DNA profile of an individual is obtained

33
Q

Inherited disorder

A

A disorder that can be passed on from one generation to the next since it is controlled by a particular gene

34
Q

Forensic science

A

The application of a broad spectrum of sciences and technologies to investigate and establish facts of interest in relation to criminal or civil law

35
Q

Amino acids

A

The monomers which serve as building blocks for the synthesis of proteins, made up of an amino acid group (NH²) and carboxylic acid group

36
Q

Protein

A

A complex organic compound made up of a long chain of amino acids; a typical amino acid has approximately 300 amino acids; enzymes and hormones are specialized proteins

37
Q

Dipeptide

A

Molecule consisting of two amino acids linked by a peptide bond

38
Q

Polypeptide

A

A long chain of amino acids linked together by peptide bonds

39
Q

Dehydration synthesis

A

A process by which small molecules combine to form longer ones with water being released during the process

40
Q

Nucleus

A

The structure in a cell that contains the chromosomes. The nucleus has a membrane around it, and is where RNA is made from the DNA in the chromosomes.

41
Q

Nuclear pore

A

Opening in the nuclear membrane that allows for the passage of mRNA into the cytoplasm

42
Q

Transcription

A

Synthesis of mRNA from DNA, by complementary matching of the nitrogenous bases in DNA

43
Q

Translation

A

Part of protein synthesis involving the combination of amino acids according to the colons on mRNA

44
Q

Codon

A

A sequence of three consecutive bases found in DNA or mRNA onto which fit three complementary bases of tRNA during protein synthesis

45
Q

Anticodon

A

Sequence of three consecutive bases on tRNA which complement the bases on the codon found in mRNA

46
Q

mRNA

A

Messenger RNA; takes information for protein synthesis from the nucleus to the ribosome

47
Q

tRNA

A

Transfer RNA; the RNA which carries amino acids and arranges itself on the mRNA according to the arrangement of bases on mRNA, with the pairing of complementary bases

48
Q

Ribosome

A

A small grain-like structure found in the cytoplasm or cytosol of plant and animal cells, which are the actual sites of protein synthesis