Unit 12 Flashcards
This type of molecule that makes up DNA and RNA; contains sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogen base.
Nucleotide
The two scientists who discovered the structure and shape of DNA.
Crick and Watson
A single strand of DNA tightly coiled around special proteins
Chromosome
The order of nucleotides that determines which protein is made
Nucleotide sequence
A section of DNA that carries the information on how to make one protein.
Gene
Information is transferred from DNA to RNA to proteins, but once the information is in the form of protein, the transfer cannot be reversed.
Central Dogma of Molecular Biology
The process of copying a strand of DNA
DNA replication
A single strand of nucleotides; different types are used to translate instructions from DNA into making proteins
RNA
The process occurring in the nucleus of a cell that copies the instructions from a part of DNA onto a strand of messenger RNA
Transcription
A type of RNA that transfers the code from DNA in the nucleus to the cytoplasm
Messenger RNA
A sequence of three nucleotide bases that represents the code for one amino acid
Codon
The process occurring in the cytoplasm of a cell that builds proteins
Translation
A type of RNA that “reads” the codons from messenger RNA
Ribosomal RNA
A type of RNA that carries an amino acid and transfers it to the protein chain being assembled in the ribosome
Transfer RNA
A sequence of three nucleotide bases that indicates the end of protein synthesis
Stop codon
Mistakes made in the DNA
Mutations
A mutation that changes one gene
Gene mutation
A type of gene mutation that occurs if a nucleotide is added deleted or changed in a nucleotide sequence; may result in one or more wrong amino acids being added to a protein
Point mutation
A gene mutation that occurs when a single nucleotide is added or deleted and causes a shift in how the codons are read; may result in one or more wrong amino acids being added
Frameshift mutation
A mutation caused when or part of a chromosome is reattached is duplicated deleted or attached incorrectly
Chromosomal mutation
A chromosomal mutation that occurs if a broken piece of a chromosome is reattached backwards
Inversion
External things that can change DNA, such as radiation or chemicals
Mutagen
A mutagen that is directly involved in causing cancer
Carcinogen
The term used when a chromosome doesn’t separate correctly during meiosis; may result in a chromosomal mutation in offspring
Nondisjunction
A long molecule in the shape of a double helix and made up of nucleotides; contains genetic “instructions”
DNA
