Unit 3 List 1 DNA and Heredity MCA 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 triplet of nucleotide bases in transfer RNA that identifies the amino acid carried and binds to a complementary codon in messenger RNA during protein synthesis at a ribosome.
Cell types
the basic functional units of an organism
Cell differentiation
the process in which a stem cell changes from one type to a differentiated one. Usually, the cell changes to a more specialized type
Chromosome
A structure found inside the nucleus of a cell
Codon
A sequence of three DNA or RNA nucleotides that corresponds with a specific amino acid or a stop signal during protein synthesis
Cytoplasm
the gelatinous liquid that fills the inside of a cell. It is composed of water, salts, and various organic molecules.
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
a term used to describe the physical structure of DNA
Endoplasmic reticulum
The endoplasmic reticulum is a part of a transportation system of the eukaryotic cell, and has many other important functions such as protein folding. It is a type of organelle made up of two subunits
Enzyme
proteins that act as biological catalysts by accelerating chemical reactions.
Gene
The basic unit of heredity passed from parent to child.
Golgi apparatus
an organelle found in most eukaryotic cells. Part of the endomembrane system in the cytoplasm, it packages proteins into membrane-bound vesicles inside the cell before the vesicles are sent to their destination
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 RNA found in cells. mRNA molecules carry the genetic information needed to make proteins.
Mutation
an alteration in the nucleic acid sequence of the genome of an organism, virus, or extrachromosomal DNA
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
naturally occurring chemical compounds that serve as the primary information-carrying molecules in cells.
Nucleotide
A nucleotide is the basic building block of nucleic acids
Nucleus
the structure in a cell that contains the chromosomes.
Phosphate group
a phosphorus atom bound to four oxygen atoms
Peptide bond
a chemical bond formed between two molecules when the carboxyl group of one molecule reacts with the amino group of the other molecule
Polypeptides
a continuous, unbranched chain of amino acids joined by peptide bonds.
Protein synthesis
the process that cells use to create proteins
Ribose
an organic compound classified as a monosaccharide, or simple sugar
Ribosome
the cellular machinery responsible for making proteins
RNA
RNA is a single-stranded molecule which has a shorter chain of nucleotides
rRNA
ribosomal RNA (rRNA), molecule in cells that forms part of the protein-synthesizing organelle known as a ribosome and that is exported to the cytoplasm to help translate the information in messenger RNA (mRNA) into protein.
Start codon
the first codon of a messenger RNA (mRNA) transcript translated by a ribosome.
Stop codon
a sequence of three nucleotides (a trinucleotide) in DNA or messenger RNA (mRNA) that signals a halt to protein synthesis in the cell
Thymine
a pyrimidine, which means that it is composed of a single ring consisting of 4 carbon atoms and 2 nitrogen atoms.
Transcription
the process of copying a segment of DNA into RNA
Translation
process in living cells in which proteins are produced using RNA molecules as templates. The generated protein is a sequence of amino acids.
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 bilayer.
