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Biology Units 3 & 4 > Unit 3 AOS 1 Key Terms > Flashcards

Unit 3 AOS 1 Key Terms Flashcards

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1
Q

Define α-helix

A

A type of secondary protien structure in which the polypeptide chain folds into a tight coil

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2
Q

Define allele

A

A different version of the same gene (at the same locus) determined by small difference in the DNA sequence of the gene

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3
Q

Define alternative splicing

A

A process in which one or more exons are removed with the introns to produce mRNA molecules of different length and sequence

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4
Q

Define amino acid

A

a nitrogen-containing compund that is the monomer from which proteins are built

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5
Q

Define anticodon

A

The three nucleotides in tRNA that bring to the complementary codon in mRNA according to base-pairing rules, resulting in the addition of a specific amino-acid to the polypeptide chain

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6
Q

Define antiparallel

A

Parallel but orientated in the opposite direction

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7
Q

Define attenuation

A

A mechanism for reducing expression of the 𝘵𝘳𝘱 operon when trytophan levels are hig, by preventing completion of transcription of the structual genes, not by stopping initiation of transcription by a repressor protein

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8
Q

Define β-pleated sheet

A

A type of secondary protein strucure in which segments of the polypeptide chain bond side by side into a flattened assembly

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9
Q

Define base pair

A

Two complementary nitrogen bases linked by hydrogen

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10
Q

Define biological funtionality

A

The function of a protein

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11
Q

Define catalyse

A

To speed up a biochemical equation using an enzyme

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12
Q

Define chromosome

A

A thread-like structure made of nucleic acids and proteins that encode genetic information

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13
Q

Define cisterna

A

A flattened membrane disc that makes up Golgi apparatus and endoplasmic reticulm

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14
Q

Define codon

A

A group of 3 nucleotides in mRNA that specifies an amino acid

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15
Q

Define complementary base pairing

A

The linking together of complementary nitrogen basing by hydrogen bonding; A pairs with T ( or U in RNA) and C pairs with G

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16
Q

Define condensation polymerisation

A

A reaction in which monomers are linked together into a polymer with the release of a small molecule, such as water, as a by-product

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17
Q

Define conformation

A

The proper or functional shape of a protein

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18
Q

Define degenerate

A

A property of the genetic code in which most animo acids are encoded by two or more codons

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19
Q

Define denature

A

To permanately change the molecular structure of a protein or DNA

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20
Q

Define deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

A

The information molecule that is the basis of an organism’s genetic material

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21
Q

Define DNA polymerase

A

The enzyme that catalyses the bonding of nucleotides to form new strands of DNA

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22
Q

Define endoplasmic reticulum

A

An organelle made up of a network of membranous tubules involved in protein synthesis and folding for secretion

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23
Q

Define enzyme

A

A specific protein catalyst that increases the rate of a biochemical reaction within the cell by lowering the amount of energy required for the reaction to proceed

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24
Q

Define exon

A

A segment of DNA or RNA containing information that codes for a polypeptide or part of a polypeptide

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25
Q

Define functional proteomics

A

The study of how proteins work together in different cells or tissues, or under different circumstances

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26
Q

Define gene

A

A segment of DNA in a chromosome that codes for a polypeptide; comprises the promoter, exons and introns

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27
Q

Define gene expression

A

The process by which the information in a gene is turned into a polypeptide

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28
Q

Define gene regulation

A

The process by which gene expression is switched on or off

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29
Q

Define genetic code

A

The complete set of mRNA codons and the corresponding amino acids they specify

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30
Q

Define genome

A

The complete sequence of DNA in a single (haploid) set of an organism’s chromosomes, including nuclear, mitochondrial and chloroplast DNA

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31
Q

Define Golgi apparatus

A

A collection of membranes that package and store substances into vesicles in preparation for their release from the cell

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32
Q

Define histone

A

A protein that binds and packages DNA in eukaryotic chromosomes

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33
Q

Define hydrogen bond

A

A weak chemical bond between a hydrogen atom on one molecule and a more electronegative element, usually an oxygen or nitrogen atom, on another molecule

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34
Q

Define hydrophillic

A

Describes substances such as polar molecules and ionic compounds that dissolve readily in water

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35
Q

Define hydrophobic

A

Describes substances such as non-polar molecules that are insoluble in water

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36
Q

Define inducer

A

A signalling molecule that switches on expression of a gene

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37
Q

Define intron

A

A segment of DNA within a gene or pre-mRNA that does not code for a polypeptide and interrupts the sequence of a gene

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38
Q

Define messenger RNA (mRNA)

A

RNA copied from DNA that conveys the instructions needed for polypeptide synthesis from the nucleus to the cytoplasm

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39
Q

Define non-coding region

A

DNA that does not encode a protein sequence

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40
Q

Define non-template strand

A

The DNA strand that has the same sequence of nucleotides as the mRNA (except it has T instead if U)

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41
Q

Define nucleic acid

A

A large, linear polymer built from nucleotide monomers bonded together; includes DNA and RNA

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42
Q

Define nucleosome

A

A histone with a length of DNA coiled around it

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43
Q

Define nucleotide

A

The monomer, or building block, of DNA and RNA, consisting of sugar, phosphate and a nitrogen base

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44
Q

Define operator

A

A segment of DNA to which a protein binds, usually to switch iff gene expression

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45
Q

Define operon

A

A group of genes that are expressed as a single unit

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46
Q

Define peptide bond

A

A chemical bond that links two nucleotides in a growing chain

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47
Q

Define phosphodiester bond

A

A chemical bond that links two nucleotides in a growing chain

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48
Q

Define plasmid

A

A small, circular DNA structure independent of the chromosome in prokaryotic cells

49
Q

Define poly-A tail

A

A chain of 100-200 adenine nucleotides added at the 3’ end of an mRNA strand

50
Q

Define polypeptide

A

A linear polymer built from amino acid monomers

51
Q

Define polyribosome

A

A chain of ribosomes formed by attaching to and translating from a single mRNA strand

52
Q

Define pre-mRNA

A

An unprocessed RNA strand that is transcribed directly from the DNA

53
Q

Define primary structure

A

The linear sequence of amino acids that makes up a polypeptide chain

54
Q

Define product

A

The outputs of a chemical reaction that are formed from the reactants or imputs

55
Q

Define promoter region

A

A segment of DNA to which RNA polymerase binds to begin transcription

56
Q

Define protein

A

A polymer made up of amino acid monomers; may consist of a single polymer chain or many polymer bonded together into a functional molecule

57
Q

Define protein secretory pathway

A

The pathway through which cells package proteins into vesicles for release into the extracellular environment

58
Q

Define proteome

A

The study of proteomes

59
Q

Define quaternary structure

A

The structure formed when two or more polypeptides associate into a mature protein

60
Q

Define random coil

A

A secondary protein structure in which the polypeptide chain does not fold into a specified arrangement

61
Q

Define regulatory gene

A

A gene whose product switches on or switches off expression of one or more other genes

62
Q

Define repressor protein

A

A protein that binds DNA to prevent RNA polymerase attaching or transcribing; essentially shuts off gene expression

63
Q

Define ribonucleic acid (RNA)

A

A type of nucleic acid consisting of a single strand of nucleotides; has essential roles in protein synthesis

64
Q

Define ribosomal RNA (rRNA)

A

An RNA strand that serves as a structural component of a ribosome

65
Q

Define ribosome

A

A small structure consisting of RNA and proteins where amino acids are joined to form polypeptides

66
Q

Define RNA polymerase

A

The enzyme that catalyses the synthesis of RNA

67
Q

Define rough endoplasmic reticulum

A

Endoplasmic reticulum with ribosomes attached

68
Q

Define secondary structure

A

The localised folding of a polypeptide chain when neighbouring amino acids bind to each other to form α-helices, β-pleated sheets or random loops

69
Q

Define semi-conservative replication

A

The replication of DNA in which the product contains one original and one newly made strand

70
Q

Define structural gene

A

A gene that codes for tRNA, rRNA or a polypeptide other than a regulatory molecule

71
Q

Define substrate

A

The substances that an enzyme acts on

72
Q

Define subunit

A

A distinct component of a biological particle; in proteins, it refers to each polypeptide that contributes to the quaternary structure

73
Q

Define template

A

A pattern that can be used for making many more copies

74
Q

Define template strand

A

A strand of DNA that is copied during DNA or RNA synthesis

75
Q

Define tertiary structure

A

The overall three-dimensional shape of a completely folded polypeptide

76
Q

Define transcription

A

The process by which DNA is copied into mRNA

77
Q

Define transcription factor

A

A protein that binds to DNA to control the rate of transcription from a gene

78
Q

Define transfer RNA (tRNA)

A

An RNA molecule that transports an amino acid to the ribosome for assembly into a polypeptide

79
Q

Define translation

A

The process of turning the nucleotide sequence of mRNA into the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide

80
Q

Define transport vesicle

A

A small membrane-bound sac containing protein that is transported from the Golgi apparatus to the plasma membrane for release into the extracellular environment

81
Q

Define triplet

A

A set of three nucleotide codes

82
Q

Define agarose gel

A

A gel matrix used for electrophoresis

83
Q

Define annealing

A

A process used in the polymerase chain reaction to join seperate strands of DNA together as a result of hydrogen bonds pairing; occurs when the temperature is lowered

84
Q

Define antibiotic selection

A

Growing bacteria in the presence of an antibiotic so only cells containing a gene for antibiotic resistance (encoded on a recombinant plasmid) can grow

85
Q

Define bacteriophage

A

A virus that can infect bacteria and replicate

86
Q

Define bioethics

A

The study of ethical issues emerging from advancements in biology

87
Q

Define biotechnology

A

The use of living organisms and biological systems and processes for human benefit

88
Q

Define blunt end

A

The end of a DNA fragment that is created following cleavage by a restriction enzyme that cuts DNA at the same position on both strands

89
Q

Define Cas9 protein

A

An endonuclease that cuts double-stranded DNA at a target location in the genome

90
Q

Define CRISPR-Cas9

A

A bacterial immune defence mechanism in which short RNAs target complementary sequences in viral genomes to guide Cas9 proteins to destroy an invading virus

91
Q

Define crRNA (CRISPR RNA)

A

RNA transcribed from the CRISPR locus; guides Cas9 proteins to their complementary sequence in the invadung viral DNA genome, targeting it for destruction by Cas9

92
Q

Define DNA ligase

A

An enzyme that catalyses the formation of a phosphodiester bond between two piece of DNA

93
Q

Define DNA profiling

A

Comparison of individuals based on patterns of non-coding base sequences in the genome

94
Q

Define frameshift mutation

A

A mutation in DNA caused by the addition or deletion of a nucleotide or nucleotides resulting in a change in the amino acid sequence and protein being made

95
Q

Define gel electrophoresis

A

A technique that separates DNA fragments according to their size and charge

96
Q

Define gene cloning

A

The process of using plasmids and bacteria to make numerous identical copies of a gene

97
Q

Define genetic engineering

A

Manipulation of genetic material, including altering DNA in an organism to suppress or enhance a gene’s activity, or combining genetic material from different species

98
Q

Define genetic modified organism (GMO)

A

An organism whose genome has been genetically engineered

99
Q

Define guide RNA

A

RNA that guides the Cas9 protein to the target sequence in a genome for gene editing

100
Q

Define knock-in organism

A

An organism in which DNA has been inserted into a specific locus

101
Q

Define knock-out organism

A

An organism whose DNA has been modified to disable the expression or function of a gene product

102
Q

Define molecular size marker

A

A set of pieces of DNA of known length that is used to estimate the size of another DNA fragments in a gel

103
Q

Define polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

A

A cyclical reaction in which DNA polymerase is used to copy a DNA template, making millions of copies of the same piece of DNA

104
Q

Define polymorphism

A

A variation in DNA sequences among individuals

105
Q

Define primer

A

A single-stranded DNA molecule that acts as the start of the amplification process

106
Q

Define recombinant DNA technology

A

The process of transferring a gene from a gene from a cell of one species to the cell of a different species

107
Q

Define recombinant plasmid

A

A plasmid with foreign DNA inserted into it

108
Q

Define reporter gene

A

A gene that enables visualisation or quantification of gene expression

109
Q

Define restriction digest reaction

A

A reaction in which restriction enzymes are incubated with DNA to cut the DNA into fragments at specific restriction sites

110
Q

Define restriction endonuclease (restriction enzyme)

A

An enzyme that cuts DNA at a specific restriction site

111
Q

Define restriction fragment

A

A short fragment of DNA generated after the cutting of a longer DNA fragment by a restriction enzyme

112
Q

Define restriction site

A

A specific nucleotide sequence (usually 4-8 bp) that is recognised as a cleaving site for a restriction enzyme

113
Q

Define short tandem repeat (STR)

A

A short non-coding region of DNA of up to five bases that is repeated many times in the genome of an organism; the number of times an STR is repeated is variable and can be used in DNA profiling

114
Q

Define sticky end

A

The end if a DNA fragment that is created following cleavage by a restriction enzyme that cuts DNA at different positions on each strand

115
Q

Define transformation

A

The process by which the genetic material of an organism id changed by the addition of new genetic material

116
Q

Define transgenic organism

A

An organism that has been modified by incorporating a piece of foreign DNA into its genome

117
Q

Define vector

A

A vehicle used to transfer DNA sequences from one organism to another

118
Q

Define wild type

A

The genotype or phenotype that is most common, or standard, in natural conditions, in contrast to an atypical or mutant form

Biology Units 3 & 4 (53 decks)

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