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Molecular biology (Updated 2016) > Glossary S-Z > Flashcards

Glossary S-Z Flashcards

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1
Q

screening

A

Term given to act of assaying recombinants for a particular sequence of traits.

Can take many forms, depending upon the methodologies available.

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2
Q

semiconservative replication

A

term refering to the retention of one parental strand along with one nascent strand during DNA replication

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3
Q

Sequence homology

A

Similarities in nucleic acid sequence and organization, and in their encoded products, that are sufficiently great as to imply common ancestral origins

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4
Q

Sequence similarity

A

Similarity in nucleic acid or polypeptide sequences, particularly in shorter segments, that may not be sufficient to imply common ancestral origins

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5
Q

sex-linked

A

a trait transmitted by one of the chromosomes determining sex of an individual

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6
Q

short arm (p)

A

One of the two prominent segments of a chromosome

the long or “q” arm is the other

the arms of a given chromosome join at its centromere

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7
Q

Shuttle vector

A

A type of cloning vector that contains sequences enabling it to be propagated and maintained in more than one type of host (e.r. E. coli and mammalian cells)

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8
Q

single recognition particle (SRP)

A

a chaperonin complex responsible for arresting polypeptides synthesis and facilitating the docking of a ribosome to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane.

normally, on ribosomes translating polypeptides destined for insertion into or across the endoplasmic reticulum membrane become associated with SRP

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9
Q

siRNA

A

refers to “small interfering RNAs” that are formed from the nucleolytic processing of larger double stranded RNA regions into 21 nt molecules, one of which associates with the RISC complex and provides specificity to the cleavage of other related RNAs

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10
Q

snRNA

A

refers to the small nuclear RNAs that are or become part of spiceosomal complexes.

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11
Q

somatic

A

refers to non-germline cells

Somatic cells may become terminally differentiated with alterations in their overall genetic complement, because they are NOT responsible for passing along the organism’s genetic material to the offspring

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12
Q

Somatic hypermutation

A

A very high frequency of the mutational events that occur in specific loci, such as the variable segments of expressed immunoglobulin genes

in immunoglobulin genes this occurs after all rearrangements how occurred and provide additional potential for a variation in immunoglobulin structure

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13
Q

Southern blot

A

The transfer of size-separated DNA fragments to a synthetic membrane for further studies

initially described by E.N. Southern

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14
Q

Splice sequence

A

a sequence within an mRNA molecule that is the site at which splicing occurs

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15
Q

Spliceosome

A

A ribonucleoprotein structure responsible for splicing of primary transcripts

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16
Q

Sporadic

A

Not familial

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17
Q

Start codon

A

The codon at which translation of an mRNA molecule begins

in eukaryotes and most prokaryotes this is always AUG (encoding methionine)

in prokaryotes N-formyl-methionine is used to initiate polypeptide synthesis

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18
Q

stop codon

A

The codon at which translation of an mRNA molecule into a polypeptide is terminated

in the Universal Code this may be: UGA, UAG, or UAA

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19
Q

Stringency

A

A measure of the rigorousness of an attempt to separate two components

Often applied to nucleic acid hybridization conditions to indicate the likely degree of sequence homology between probe and target sequences

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20
Q

synteny

A

The conservation of gene groupings and organization on the chromosomes of different species of organisms

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21
Q

Telomerase

A

a ribonucleoprotein complex that maintains the repeat structures at the telomeric ends of chromosomes

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22
Q

telomere

A

The natural distal end of a chromosome

Contains some form of simple repeating sequence, usually with a Single stranded distal end that may form a hairpin

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23
Q

Template

A

an original form from which a copy is made using information present in the original

24
Q

Termination sequence

A

The point in a DNA sequence at which transcription of a gene into RNA ceases

25
Q

TFIID

transcription factor IID

A

Also know as “TATA factor”

Necessary for the assembly of RNA polymerase for transcription of essentially all eukaryotic mRNAs

26
Q

thymine

A

one of the pyrimidine bases found in DNA

2,4-dihydroxy-5-methylpyrimidine

27
Q

topoisomerase

A

An enzymatic activity responsible for relieving excessive supercoiling in DNA

28
Q

Trans-

A

located on two physically dis-contiguous DNA molecules

29
Q

transcribe

A

to copy DNA into RNA

30
Q

transcription

A

the process wherein DNA is copies into RNA (often mRNA)

31
Q

Transcription factor

A

A protein whose function is to control the act of transcription

32
Q

Transcription start site

A

The point in a DNA sequence at which transcription of the gene into RNA begins

33
Q

Transcriptional control

A

gene control exerted at the level of transcription

34
Q

Transduction

A

The Incorporation of a cellular gene into a viral genome, that can then be introduced into other cells

35
Q

Transfection

A

The process of placing foreign DNA into mammalian cells

also sometimes used to refer to insertion of foreign DNA into bacteria using bacteriophage

36
Q

Transformation

A

The cancerous alteration of mammalian cells

also the act of putting foreign DNA into bacteria

37
Q

Transformed phenotype

A

Acquisition of the phenotype characteristic of oncogenetic transformation

38
Q

transgenic

A

an individual in which genetic modification has occurred in the germline tissues may be transmitted to subsequent generations

39
Q

Transition mutation

A

A point mutation involving the substitution of a purine for a purine, or a pyrimidine for a pyrimidine

40
Q

translation

A

The process of converting the nucleic acid language of the genetic code into the amino acid language of polypeptides, catalyzed by the ribosome and a host of soluble factors

mRNA codons are recognized by tRNA anti-codons. Each tRNA translates a single codon into a single amino acid, resulting in synthesis of polypeptide wherein the amino acid sequence is dictated by and matches the order of the codons in the mRNA

41
Q

Translational control

A

Gene control exerted at the level of mRNA translation

42
Q

Translational frame shifting

A

A mechanism used by certain viruses and even higher organisms to change the reading frame used during translation of an mRNA molecule, in a controlled manner, so that the polypeptide product is the result of translation in more than one reading frame

43
Q

Transposable elements

A

Genetic elements characterized by their abilities to insert into withdraw from a given location within the genome, resulting in movement from site to site within the genome over a period of time

may cause epigentic changes in phenotype

44
Q

transversion mutation

A

A point mutation involving the substitution of a purine for a pyrimidine, or vice versa

45
Q

trinucleotide repeat

A

a highly reiterative sequence comprised entirely of a single trinucleotide sequence

Changes in the length of the repeat regions of many genes are associated with a number of genetic diseases

46
Q

tRNA

transfer RNA

A

special RNAs that are charge with amino acids and which carry anticodons for recognition of the codons in mRNA

Responsible for translation from the language of nucleic acids into the language of polypeptides

each tRNA can be charged with only one type of amino acid, although multiple tRNAs exist for many of the amino acids

47
Q

Tumor suppressor

A

A gene that prevents to tumor formation until deleted or mutated

48
Q

turnover

A

The balance between synthesis and degradation of the product

The particular balance will affect the levels of accumulation of the product

49
Q

umber mutation

A

one wherein a codon has been modified, resulting in the formation of a UGA stop codon

50
Q

unifactorial

A

caused by mutations in a single, specific gene

51
Q

universal genetic code

A

the “standard” codon usage that is common to most organisms

52
Q

untranslated region

A

mRNA sequences that lie 5’ and 3’ to the sequences that are translated into polypeptide

53
Q

uracil

A

one of the pyrimidine bases found in RNA

2,4-dihydroxypyrimidine

54
Q

vector

A

a construct use to propagate DNA in a host (bacteria, yeast, or cultured cells)

55
Q

virion

A

a replication-competent virus particle

56
Q

Western analysis

A

Reaction of specific immunoglobulin(s) with proteinaceous antigens separated by electrophoretic mean and transferred to membranous support

used to identify those which carry epitopes recognized by the immunoglobulin(s)

usually the proteins are first separated by size, so that information is gained about the approximate mass of recognized polypeptide(s)

57
Q

Yeast artificial chromosome (YAC)

A

a vector used in yeast that contains centromeric and telomeric sequences, and origins of replication so that is may be maintained and propagated

Used as cloning vectors which can propagate very large fragments of foreign DNA

Molecular biology (Updated 2016) (15 decks)

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