Section 24.2-- The Activities of DNA Flashcards
the flow of biological information from DNA to RNA and then from RNA to protein is known as the
central dogma of molecular biology
the process by which DNA makes a copy of itself before cell division is called
replication
process through which the cell copies the information contained in the DNA into messenger RNA molecules
transcription
the messenger RNA molecules in turn, provide the information to the ribosomes to make protein molecules through
translation
more recently, scientists have found that many viruses, like HIV, can make DNA starting from molecules of RNA in a process called
reverse transcription
before a cell divides, it makes a copy of its DNA by a process called
replication
results in two identical DNA molecules where there had been only one
replication
because DNA polymerase cannot replicate the last several base pairs of a chromosome, DNA has special sequences, called ____________-
telomeres
after the telomeres are gone, DNA can no longer replicate and the cell dies through
apoptosis
when a new protein is needed, the DNA coding for that protein is copied into a
messenger RNA molecule
the mRNA produced by __________________ in the nucleus is then shipped to the cytoplasm, where it is used by the ribosomes as a template to make the protein
transcription
a consecutive sequence of three nucleotides in the mRNA that translates into a specific amino acid
codon
a table with all the possible combinations of nucleotides and the amino acids they generate
genetic code
signal the end of the protein and instruct the ribosome to stop translation
stop codons
indicates the beginning of a protein and also codes for the amino acid methionine
start codon
proteins are manufactured by the
ribosomes
ribosomes are made of both protein and
ribosomal RNA
amino acids are brought to the ribosome by molecules of
enter the ribosome through a special slot
transfer RNA
the process of synthesizing proteins from the RNA pattern is called
translation
portions of the chromosomes that do not specify the amino-acid sequence of proteins.
noncoding DNA
noncoding DNA sequences located within the genes
introns
coding sequences
exons
besides nRNA and rRNA, the cell includes many types of RNA molecules that are collectively called
small RNA
noncoding DNA also helps determine the structure of
chromatin and chromosomes
these small random changes in the DNA that can be thought of as typographical errors in the genetic material
mutations
allows man to make genetic changes in organisms more quickly and more precisely
genetic engineering
can be used to produce a genetic twin of any organism
cloning
