MOL BIO LEC 1: DEFINITION OF TERMS

Question 1

Study of biological phenomena at the molecular level, in particular study of the molecular structure of DNA and the information it encodes, and the biochemical basis of gene expression and its regulation.

Answer 1

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Question 2

Use of molecular biology techniques for the purposes of prevention, diagnosis, and follow-up or prognosis of disease; and monitoring of therapies.

Answer 2

MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS

Question 3

a highly-ordered structure of a single - double stranded DNA (dsDNA) molecule, compacted many times with the aid of DNA - binding protein

Answer 3

CHROMOSOME

Question 4

nuclear DNA and its associated structural proteins.

Answer 4

CHROMATIN

Question 5

UNIT OF CHROMATIN consisting nucleosome core particles (16 base pairs of dsDNA) wound around a core of 6 histone proteins

Answer 5

NUCLEOSOMES

Question 6

Polymer made of nucleotide monomers
Nucleotide: unit of nucleic acid, consisting of one chemical base (purine/pyrimidine) plus a sugar molecule (deoxyribose/ribose) & at least one phosphate group.

Answer 6

NUCLEIC ACIDS

Question 7

A unit of DNA that specifies production of proteins and RNA molecules required for cellular function

Answer 7

GENES

Question 8

the coding region of a gene that will be expressed as protein following transition

Answer 8

EXONS

Question 9

the non-coding region of gene, locked between exons, that will not be translated into proteins

Answer 9

INTRONS

Question 10

1 of the alternative version/form of gene at a given location (locus) along a chromosome
An individual inherits 2 alleles for each gene, 1 from each parent

Answer 10

ALLELE

Question 11

describe the organism’s allele/genetic information

Answer 11

GENOTYPE

Question 12

the observable characteristics of an organism, including visible features and chemical and behavioral characteristics

Answer 12

PHENOTYPE

Question 13

The process responsible for the flow of genetic information gene to protein

Answer 13

GENE EXPRESSION

Question 14

Thread like structure composed of DNA and proteins that carries genetic information
Location: nucleus of the cell
Function: responsible for transmitting genetic information from one generation to the next

Answer 14

CHROMOSOMES

Question 15

The complete set of chromosomes
Human genome contains 2 copies of each autosomal gene
½ of the genome is inherited from each parent (haploid genome)

Answer 15

GENOME

Question 16

2 MAIN TYPES OF CELLS
A distinct, membrane-bound organelles is absent and DNA is not organized into chromosomes
Organisms are called prokaryotes (bacteria

Answer 16

PROKARYOTIC CELLS

Question 17

2 MAIN TYPES OF CELLS
Cells with true nucleus bounded by a nuclear membrane within which lie the chromosomes
Organisms called eukaryotes (higher plants and animals, fungi, protozoa, and most algae)

Answer 17

EUKARYOTIC CELLS

Question 18

The process of exchange of genes or segments of DNA between chromosomes
Produces gametes with chromosomes that are different from the parents

Answer 18

RECOMBINATION

Question 19

A process of increasing the number of copies of a specific nucleic sequence, such as DNA/RNA

Answer 19

NUCLEIC ACID AMPLIFICATION

Question 20

A high-throughput sequencing technology that allows the simultaneous sequencing of millions of DNA fragments
Used for a variety of applications in molecular diagnostics (identifying genetic mutations & variations)

Answer 20

NEXT GENERATION SEQUENCING (NGS)

Question 21

Uses fluorescent probes to bind to specific DNA sequences on chromosomes
Often used to detect chromosomal abnormalities & gene arrangements

Answer 21

Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH)