Topic 8- Key Terms

Question 1

Define A Gene?

Answer 1

A section of DNA located at a particular (fixed site) called the locus.

Question 2

Define Intron

Answer 2

The non-coding, intervening sequence of DNA within a gene

Question 3

Define Exon

Answer 3

Regions coding for proteins and interrupted by the unused sequences called introns

Question 4

Define Degenerate

Answer 4

The genetic code is degenerate because there are many instances in which different codons code for the same amino acids.

Question 5

Define Chromosomes

Answer 5

Threadlike structure made of proteins and DNA by which hereditary information is physically passed from one generation to the next.

Question 6

Define Centromere

Answer 6

It is the point of attachment of the kinetochore, a structure to which the microtubules of the mitotic spindle become anchored

Question 7

Define Homologous Chromosomes

Answer 7

They are pairs of chromosomes, one maternal set, and one paternal set. They contain the same genes in the same loci but are not necessarily identical

Question 8

Define Meiosis

Answer 8

Type of nuclear division in which the number of chromosomes is halved.

Question 9

Define Codon

Answer 9

A sequence of three adjacent nucleotides in mRNA that codes or one amino acid

Question 10

Define Genome

Answer 10

An organisms complete set of DNA

Question 11

Define Proteome

Answer 11

Refers to the complete set of proteins expressed by a genome in an organism

Question 12

Define mRNA

Answer 12

It is made by copying a strand of DNA called the template strand.
A sequence of three nucleotides that correspond with a specific amino acid or start/stop signal during translation

Question 13

Define tRNA

Answer 13

Small RNA molecules that carry amino acids to the ribosomes for polymerization into polypeptides

Question 14

Define Transcription

Answer 14

The process by which complimentary mRNA copy is made of the specific regions of the DNA molecule which codes for a polypeptide

Question 15

Define Translation

Answer 15

The process by which ribosomes in the cytoplasm or endoplasmic reticulum synthesize proteins after transcription

Question 16

Define Splicing

Answer 16

The process by which introns are removed from pre-mRNA to produce mature mRNA that only contains exons

Question 17

Define Pre-mRNA

Answer 17

An mRNA molecule that still contains both introns and exons

Question 18

Define Polypeptide

Answer 18

Formation of a polypeptide involves the formation of a peptide bond between amino acids

Question 19

Define Allele

Answer 19

Different forms of a gene

Question 20

Define Anti-Codon

Answer 20

A sequence of three adjacent nucleotides on a molecule of tRNA that is complimentary to a particular codon on mRNA.

Question 21

Define Template Strand

Answer 21

It refers to the strand used by DNA polymerase or RNA polymerase during DNA replicated

Question 22

Define Peptide Bond

Answer 22

A chemical bond formed between two amino acids during condensation

Question 23

Define Histone Proteins

Answer 23

Highly alkaline proteins found in eukaryotic cell nuclei that package and order nucleosomes. DNA coils around them.

Question 24

Define Chromatid

Answer 24

One of the two strands of a chromosome that are joined together by a single centromere prior to cell division

Question 25

Define Diploid

Answer 25

A term applied to cells in which the nucleus contains two sets of chromosomes.

Question 26

Define Haploid

Answer 26

The number of chromosomes in a single set is called the haploid number

Question 27

Define Locus

Answer 27

In genetics, it is a fixed position on a chromosome