Language of Genetics Flashcards
genome
entire set of heritable material (usually DNA, sometimes RNA) found in cell or organism)
chromosome
an organized structure of DNA containing all or part of the genetic material of an organism
chromatin
the substance of a chromosome, containing DNA, RNA, and protein
chromatid
one half of a replicated chromosome
euchromatin
loosely packed forms of chromatin
heterochromatin
tightly packed forms of chromatin
chromatid
a replicated chromosome, prior to the recombination and/or cell division
sister chromatids
found withing the same replicated chromosomes
non-sister chromatids
chromatids on homologous chromosomes
DNA
deoxyribonucleic acid, hereditary material
ssDNA
single stranded DNA
nDNA
nuclear DNA (DNA found in the nucleus), typically contains multiple chromosomes
mtDNA
mitochondrial DNA (DNA found in the mitochondria)
cpDNA
chloroplast DNA (DNA found in the chloroplast)
gene
heritable unit that contributes to a characteristic (often encodes a protein, but can also encode RNAs)
Coding DNA
regions of genome that represent protein-coding sequences
allele
a version or variant of a particular locus on the genome
wild-type (wt) allele
one of many possible alleles of a gene that allow the gene to function “normally”, recognizing that “normal” can be context-specific
mutant allele
an allele that results in “abnormal” function of a gene. Can also refer to scenarios where researchers are monitoring changes (mutation) in DNA, whether they are involved in gene function or not
null (-) allele
an allele that results in either no gene product being produced or that absence of function of the gene product and the phenotypic level
+/+
two wt alleles
+/-
1 wt and 1 null allele
-/-
2 null alleles
locus
a specific position on a genome
