Genetics

Question 0

Diploid

Answer 0

An organism containing two complete copies of the genome in its nuclei

Question 1

Haploid

Answer 1

Organisms with nuclei that contain just one chromosome set

Question 2

Homologs

Answer 2

Two members of a chromosome pair

Question 3

Nucleosome

Answer 3

Polymer around which DNA double helix is wound

Question 4

Histone

Answer 4

Protein comprising a nucleosome

Question 5

Chromatin

Answer 5

DNA and nucleosomes

Question 6

Transcription

Answer 6

The first stage of protein-synthesis. Occurs inside the nucleus.

Question 7

Translation

Answer 7

Second stage of protein-synthesis. Each mRNA is translated into one specific protein.

Question 8

Promoter

Answer 8

A regulator region that is a short distance from the 5’ end of a gene and acts as the binding site for RNA polymerase

Question 9

PCR

Answer 9

An in vitro method for amplifying a specific DNA segment that uses two primers that hybridize to opposite ends of the segment in opposite polarity and over successive cycles prime exponential replication of that segment only

Question 10

Northern blot

Answer 10

The transfer of electrophoretically separated RNA molecules from a gel onto an absorbent sheet which is then immersed in a labeled probe that will bind to the RNA of interest

Question 11

Southern blot

Answer 11

The transfer of electrophoretically separated fragments of DNA from a gel to an absorbent sheet such as paper which is then immersed in a solution containing a labeled probe that will bind to a fragment of interest

Question 12

Western blot

Answer 12

The transfer of electrophoretically separated fragments of proteins from a gel to a membrane which is then immersed in a solution containing an antibody to that protein that will bind to it

Question 13

Epigenetic

Answer 13

Nongenetic chemical changes in histones or DNA that alter gene function without altering the DNA sequence

Question 14

Exon

Answer 14

The section of a gene corresponding to mRNA that is translated into protein

Question 15

Intron

Answer 15

A segment of largely unknown function within a gene. It is initially transcribed but the transcript is not found in the functional mRNA.

Question 16

Helicase

Answer 16

An enzyme that breaks hydrogen bonds in DNA and unwinds the DNA during movement of the replication fork

Question 17

Plasmid

Answer 17

An autonomously replicating extrachromosomal DNA molecule

Question 18

Primer

Answer 18

An RNA or DNA oligonucleotide that can serve as a template for DNA synthesis by DNA polymerase when annealed to a larger DNA molecule

Question 19

Polypeptide

Answer 19

A protein. A chain of linked amino acids.

Question 20

Microarray

Answer 20

A set of DNAs containing all or most genes in a genome deposited on a small glass chip

Question 21

Apoptosis

Answer 21

The cellular pathways responsible for programmed cell death

Question 22

Allele

Answer 22

One of the different forms of a gene that can exist at a single locus

Question 23

Gamete

Answer 23

Sex cell with one chromosomal copy, formed before reproduction (egg or sperm in humans)

Question 24

Zygote

Answer 24

Cell formed by fusion of egg and sperm; the unique diploid cell that will divide mitotically to create a differentiated diploid organism.

Question 25

Upstream

Answer 25

Refers to DNA or RNA sequence located on the 5’ side of a point of reference.

Question 26

Reporter gene

Answer 26

A gene whose phenotypic expression is easy to monitor; used to study tissue-specific promotor and enhancer activity in transgenes.

Question 27

Missense mutation

Answer 27

A point mutation (non-synonymous substitution) in which a single nucleotide change results in a codon that codes for a different amino acid.

Question 28

Nonsense mutation

Answer 28

A point mutation in a sequence of DNA that results in a premature stop codon, or a nonsense codon in the transcribed mRNA, and in a truncated, incomplete, and usually nonfunctional protein product.

Question 29

Nonsynonymous substitution

Answer 29

A nucleotide mutation that alters the amino acid sequence of a protein.

Question 30

Synonymous substitution

Answer 30

Also can be referred to as a silent substitution.

The evolutionary substitution of one base for another in an exon of a gene coding for a protein, such that the produced amino acid sequence is NOT modified