Living World- Wordlist

Question 1

genetics

Answer 1

the study of heredity

Question 2

deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

Answer 2

the molecule found within the nucleus which contains genetic information

Question 3

double helix

Answer 3

the twisted strucutre formed by double-stranded DNA

Question 4

nucleotide

Answer 4

the molecular building block of DNA consisting of a sugar, phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base

Question 5

What are the nitrogenous bases attached to?

Answer 5

Remember that sugar is sticky = the bases stick to the sugar

Question 6

What are the 4 nitrogenous bases in DNA?

Answer 6

Adenine, Thymine, Guanine, Cytosine

Question 7

complimentary base pairing

Answer 7

the hydrogen bonding between particular bases: in DNA, T-A and C-G

Question 8

How do you memorise the complimentary base pairs?

Answer 8

Apple on a Tree, Car in a Garage

Question 9

codon

Answer 9

a group of 3 nucleotides on a strand of mRNA that codes for a specific amino acid in the formation of a polypeptide

Question 10

Polymerase

Answer 10

the enzyme responsible for synthesising new DNA/RNA

Question 11

polypeptide

Answer 11

a chain of amino acids connected by peptide bonds. a single polypeptide may combine with other polypeptides to form a protein

Question 12

What are the steps involved in polypeptide synthesis?

Answer 12

DNA -(translation)-> RNA -(transcription)-> polypeptide

Question 13

transcription

Answer 13

a process that occurs in the nucleus where DNA is copied into an mRNA molecule

Question 14

translation

Answer 14

a process where a ribosome synthesises a polypeptide chain using a tRNA molecule

Question 15

messenger RNA (mRNA)

Answer 15

a strand of RNA used to carry information from the nucleus to a ribosome

Question 16

transfer RNA (tRNA)

Answer 16

a molecule responsible for carrying amino acid to ribosomes

Question 17

chromatin

Answer 17

a complex of DNA and proteins and forms chromosomes

Question 18

chromosome

Answer 18

a thread-like structure that consists of condensed chromatin

Question 19

homologous chromosome

Answer 19

a matching pair of chromosomes, one derived from each parent

Question 20

haploid

Answer 20

cells containing 1 complete set (n) of chromosomes

Question 21

diploid

Answer 21

cells containing 2 complete sets (2n) of chromosomes

Question 22

How do you memorise the difference between haploid and diploid?

Answer 22

haploid = half
diploid = di- = 2

Question 23

mitosis

Answer 23

cell division that produces 2 diploid cells which are genetically identical to each other and to the parent cell

Question 24

What are the 4 stages of mitosis?

Answer 24

prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase (PMAT)

Question 24

How do you memorise the 4 stages of mitosis?

Answer 24

PMAT - photocopy, middle, apart, tear

Question 25

prophase

Answer 25

chromatin into chromosomes, the nuclear envelope break down, chromosomes attach to spindle fibres by their centromeres

Question 26

anaphase

Answer 26

sister chromatids are pulled to opposite poles of the cell

Question 26

metaphase

Answer 26

chromosomes line up along the metaphase plate (centre of the cell)

Question 27

telophase

Answer 27

2 new nuclear envelopes form, chromosomes unfold into chromatin, cytokinesis can begin

Question 28

cytokinesis

Answer 28

the process that finally splits the parent cell into two identical daughter cells

Question 29

meiosis

Answer 29

cell division that produces 4 haploid cells which are genetically unique

Question 30

crossing over

Answer 30

a process occurring in meoisis, where genetic material is exchanged between homologous chromosomes

Question 31

asexual reproduction

Answer 31

a type of reproduction which does not involve gametes and produces genetically unique offspring

Question 32

sexual reproduction

Answer 32

a type of reproduction which involves gametes and produces genetically unique offspring

Question 33

gametes

Answer 33

the haploid sex cells (sperm and ova) formed during the processs of meiosis

Question 34

gonads

Answer 34

organs that produce gametes in males and females i.e. testes and ovaries

Question 35

fertilisation

Answer 35

the uniting of 2 gametes to produce a zygote

Question 36

zygote

Answer 36

the diploid cell formed during the process of fertilisation

Question 37

gene

Answer 37

a section of DNA which codes for the production of a polypeptide and determines a characteristic

Question 38

allele

Answer 38

the alternate forms of a gene, found at the same location on homologous chromosomes

Question 39

genotype

Answer 39

the combination of alleles present for a particular gene in an organism

Question 40

phenotype

Answer 40

the physical expression of a genotype

Question 41

dominant

Answer 41

an allele that masks the presence of a recessive allele

Question 42

recessive

Answer 42

an allele that is masked when in the presence of a dominant allele

Question 43

homozygous

Answer 43

having identical alleles for a single gene e.g. RR (homozygous dominant) or rr (homozygous recessive)

Question 44

heterozygous

Answer 44

having 2 different alleles for a single gene e.g. Rr (heterozygous)

Question 45

monohybrid cross

Answer 45

a cross between 2 organisms involving a single gene

Question 46

pedigree

Answer 46

a chart used to depict relationships between organisms

Question 47

mutation

Answer 47

a change in the genetic information

Question 48

biotechnology

Answer 48

any technological applications that used plants, animals, or microorganisms to make/modify products/processes that benefit humans

Question 49

clone

Answer 49

a genetically identical cell or organism

Question 50

transgenic organism

Answer 50

an organism that has had genes from other species inserted into its genome