unit 3 list 1 Flashcards
adenine
A chemical compound that is used to make one of the building blocks of DNA and RNA
amino acid
molecules that combine to form proteins
anticodon
a sequence of three nucleotides found in transfer RNA (tRNA), which recognizes and binds to a specific codon on messenger RNA (mRNA) during the process of protein synthesis
cell types
the basic functional units of an organism
cell differentiation
which young, immature (unspecialized) cells take on individual characteristics and reach
chromosome
A structure found inside the nucleus of a cell
codon
DNA or RNA sequence of three nucleotides (a trinucleotide) that forms a unit of genomic
cytoplasm
the gelatinous liquid that fills the inside of a cell
cytosine
A chemical compound that is used to make one of the building blocks of DNA and RNA
deoxyribose
a pentose sugar important in the formation of DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA
the molecule that carries genetic information for the development and functioning of an organism
double helix
describes the appearance of double-stranded DNA, which is composed of two linear strands that run opposite to each other, or anti-parallel, and twist together
endoplasmic reticulum
a continuous membrane system that forms a series of flattened sacs within the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells
enzyme
a biological catalyst that is usually a protein but could be RNA
gene
The basic unit of heredity passed from parent to child
Golgi apparatus
a cell organelle that helps process and package proteins and lipid molecules
guanine
A chemical compound that is used to make one of the building blocks of DNA and RNA
hydrogen bond
the electromagnetic attraction created between a partially positively charged hydrogen atom attached to a highly electronegative atom and another nearby electronegative atom
mRNA
a type of single-stranded RNA involved in protein synthesis
mutation
is 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
long chainlike molecules composed of a series of nearly identical building blocks called nucleotides
nucleotide
a sugar molecule (either ribose in RNA or deoxyribose in DNA) attached to a phosphate group
nucleus
the structure in a cell that contains the chromosomes
peptide bond
a covalent bond that links amino acids together to form a protein
phosphate group
a phosphorus atom bound to four oxygen atoms
polypeptides
a chain of amino acids
protein synthesis
the process that cells use to create proteins
ribose
an organic compound classified as a monosaccharide, or simple sugar
ribosome
an intercellular structure made of both RNA and protein
RNA
a nucleic acid present in all living cells that has structural similarities to DNA
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 (mRNA) transcript translated by a ribosome
stop codon
a codon (nucleotide triplet within messenger RNA) that signals the termination of the translation process of the current protein
thymine
one of the four nucleotide bases in the nucleic acid of DNA that are represented by the letters G–C–A–T
transcription
the process of making an RNA copy of a gene’s DNA sequence
translation
the process of translating the sequence of a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule
tRNA
a type of RNA molecule that helps decode a messenger RNA (mRNA) sequence into a protein
uracil
a nitrogenous base that is a component of RNA
vesicle
a structure within or outside a cell, consisting of liquid or cytoplasm enclosed by a lipid
