Unit 3 DNA & Heredity EJR Flashcards
adenine
one of the four constituent bases of nucleic acids
amino acid
molecules that combine to form proteins
anticodon
three nucleotides forming a unit of genetic code in a transfer RNA molecule
cell types
the basic functional units of an organism
cell differentiation
cells take on individual characteristics and reach their mature (specialized) form and function.
chromosome
thread-like structures located inside the nucleus of animal and plant cells
codon
A sequence of three consecutive nucleotides in a DNA or RNA molecule that codes for a specific amino acid.
cytoplasm
the gelatinous liquid that fills the inside of a cell
cytosine
compound found in living tissue as a constituent base of nucleic acids
deoxyribose
a sugar that has five carbon atoms and four oxygen atoms in each molecule and is part of DNA
DNA
the molecule that carries genetic information for the development and functioning of an organism
double helix
a term used to describe the physical structure of DNA
endoplasmic reticulum
a network of membrane-enclosed tubules and sacs (cisternae) that extends from the nuclear membrane throughout the cytoplasm
enzyme
proteins that help speed up metabolism, or the chemical reactions in our bodies.
gene
unit of heredity which is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring.
Golgi apparatus
a cell organelle that helps process and package proteins and lipid molecules, especially proteins destined to be exported from the cell
guanine
A chemical compound that is used to make one of the building blocks of DNA and RNA
hydrogen bond
a special type of dipole-dipole attraction between molecules, not a covalent bond to a hydrogen atom
RNA
nucleic acid present in all living cells
mutation
a change in the DNA sequence of an organism
nitrogenous base
A molecule that contains nitrogen and has the chemical properties of a base.
nuclear membrane
a double layer that encloses the cell’s nucleus, where the chromosomes reside
nucleic acid
large biomolecules that play essential roles in all cells and viruses
nucleotide
A molecule that is the basic building block of the nucleic acids DNA and RNA.
nucleus
the structure in a cell that contains the chromosomes
Peptide bond
an amide type of covalent chemical bond
phosphate group
A functional group characterized by a phosphorus atom bonded to four oxygen atoms
polypeptides
biomaterials composed of repeating amino acid units linked by a peptide bond
protein synthesis
formation of a peptide bond between the carboxyl group at the end of a growing polypeptide chain and a free amino group on an incoming amino acid.
ribose
a sugar that is naturally produced by the body from food
ribosome
an intercellular structure made of both RNA and protein, and it is the site of protein synthesis in the cell
mRNA
a molecule that contains the instructions or recipe that directs the cells to make a protein using its natural machinery
rRNA
molecule in cells that forms part of the protein-synthesizing organelle known as a ribosome
start codon
the first codon of a messenger RNA transcript translated by a ribosome
stop codon
a sequence of three nucleotides in DNA or mRNA that signals a halt to protein synthesis in the cell.
thymine
a pyrimidine base C5H6N2O2 that is one of the four bases coding genetic information in the polynucleotide chain of DNA
transcription
the process by which a cell makes an RNA copy of a piece of DNA
translation
the process by which a cell makes proteins using the genetic information carried in messenger RNA
tRNA
a type of RNA molecule that helps decode a messenger RNA (mRNA) sequence into a protein
uracil
one of the four nucleotide bases in the nucleic acid RNA.
vesicle
a structure within or outside a cell, consisting of liquid or cytoplasm enclosed by a lipid bilayer.
