Lecture 1 Slides 24-27 Flashcards
Eukaryotes
“Have a membrane bound nucleus”
An organism consisting of a cell or cells in which the genetic material is DNA in the form of chromosomes contained within a distinct nucleus. Eukaryotes include all living organisms other than eubacteria and archaebacteria.
Procaryotes
“Do not have a membrane bound nucleus”
A microscopic single-celled organism that has neither a distinct nucleus with a membrane nor other specialized organelles. Prokaryotes include bacteria and cyanobacteria
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic Acid
A self-replicating material present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information
RNA
Ribonucleic Acid
A nucleic acid present in all living cells. Its principal role is to act as a messenger carrying instructions from DNA for controlling the synthesis of proteins, although in some viruses RNA rather than DNA carries the genetic information.
tRNA
Trasnfer RNA
Small RNA molecules that carry amino acids to the ribosome for polymerization into a polypeptide. During translation the amino acid is inserted into the growing polypeptide chain when the anticodon of the tRNA pairs with a codon on the mRNA being translated
rRNA
Ribosomal RNA
A molecular component of a ribosome, the cell’s essential protein factory. Strictly speaking, rRNA does not make proteins. It makes polypeptides (assemblies of amino acids) that go to make up proteins
mRNA (iRNA)
Messenger RNA (Informational RNA)
synthesized from a DNA template during transcription, that mediates the transfer of genetic information from the cell nucleus to ribosomes in the cytoplasm, where it serves as a template for protein synthesis
Exon
“DNA that codes for a gene”
A segment of a DNA or RNA molecule containing information coding for a protein or peptide sequence
Intron
“DNA that does not code for a gene”
A segment of a DNA or RNA molecule that does not code for proteins and interrupts the sequence of genes
Allele
“Alternative form of a gene”
one of two or more alternative forms of a gene that arise by mutation and are found at the same place on a chromosome
DNA polymerase
“Enzyme that creates a complimentary strand of DNA from a DNA template”
RNA polymerase
“Enzyme that creates a complimentary strand of RNA from a DNA template”
Plasmid
“Extra chromosomal DNA found in prokaryotes (i.e. a circular piece of DNA)
Nucleus
“Contains the chromosomes”
a dense organelle present in most eukaryotic cells, typically a single rounded structure bounded by a double membrane containing the genetic material
Nuclear pore
“Nano-scale pore that allows mRNA to leave the nucleus after transcription”
Restriction Enzyme
“Prokaryote enzyme that stops viral reproduction by cleaving viral DNA”
Cuts a DNA molecule at a particular place. They are essential tools for recombinant DNA technology. The enzyme “scans” a DNA molecule, looking for a particular sequence, usually of four to six nucleotides
DNA Ligase
“Enzyme that repairs, seals gaps created by, say Restriction Enzymes”
A specific type of enzyme, a ligase that facilitates the joining of DNA strands together by catalyzing the formation of a phosphodiester bond
PCR
Polymerase Chain Reaction
“Creates millions of copies of particular segment of DNA”
a technique used in molecular biology to amplify a single copy or a few copies of a segment of DNA across several orders of magnitude, generating thousands to millions of copies of a particular DNA sequence
Receptor Proteins
“Proteins that decorate cells to enable signaling”
A protein molecule that receives chemical signals from outside a cell. When such a chemical signals bind to a receptor, they cause some form of cellular / tissue response (i.e. a change in the electrical activity of a cell)
Antibodies
“produced in response to and bind foreign bodies to enable targeted immune response”
A blood protein produced in response to and counteracting a specific antigen. Antibodies combine chemically with substances that the body recognizes as alien, such as bacteria, viruses, and foreign substances in the blood
Aptamers
“Artificial antibodies constructed out of DNA, RNA or Peptides”
