Unit 3 List 1 DNA & Heredity Flashcards
adenine
a compound which is one of the four constituent bases of nucleic acids. A purine derivative, it is paired with thymine in double-stranded DNA
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
process in which a stem cell changes from one type to a differentiated one.
chromosome
package of DNA with part or all of the genetic material of an organism
codon
a sequence of three DNA or RNA nucleotides that corresponds with a specific amino acid or stop signal during protein synthesis.
cytoplasm
the gelatinous liquid that fills the inside of a cell.
deoxyribose
a sugar derived from ribose by replacing a hydroxyl group with hydrogen.
DNA
a self-replicating material that is present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes.
double helix
a pair of parallel helices intertwined about a common axis
endoplasmic reticulum
a network of membranous tubules within the cytoplasm of a eukaryotic cell, continuous with the nuclear membrane
enzyme
a substance produced by a living organism which acts as a catalyst to bring about a specific biochemical reaction.
gene
a unit of heredity which is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring.
Golgi apparatus
a complex of vesicles and folded membranes within the cytoplasm of most eukaryotic cells, involved in secretion and intracellular transport.
guanine
a compound that occurs in guano and fish scales, and is one of the four constituent bases of nucleic acids. A purine derivative, it is paired with cytosine in double-stranded DNA.
hydrogen bond
a weak bond between two molecules resulting from an electrostatic attraction between a proton in one molecule and an electronegative atom in the other
mRNA
single-stranded RNA involved in protein synthesis.
mutation
the action or process of mutating
nitrogenous base
nitrogen-containing biological compounds that form nucleosides
nuclear membrane
two lipid bilayer membranes that in eukaryotic cells surround the nucleus
nucleic acid
a complex organic substance present in living cells, especially DNA or RNA, whose molecules consist of many nucleotides linked in a long chain.
nucleotide
a compound consisting of a nucleoside linked to a phosphate group.
nucleus
the structure in a cell that contains the chromosomes.
peptide bond
amide type of covalent chemical bond linking two consecutive alpha-amino acids from C1 (carbon number one) of one alpha-amino acid
phosphate group
A functional group characterized by a phosphorus atom bonded to four oxygen atoms
polypeptides
A substance that contains many amino acids
protein synthesis
core biological process, occurring inside cells, balancing the loss of cellular proteins through the production of new proteins
ribose
a sugar of the pentose class which occurs widely in nature as a constituent of nucleosides and several vitamins and enzymes.
ribosome
a minute particle consisting of RNA and associated proteins found in large numbers in the cytoplasm of living cells.
RNA
a polymeric molecule that is essential for most biological functions, either by performing the function itself
rRNA
type of non-coding RNA which is the primary component of ribosomes, essential to all cells
start codon
first codon of a messenger
stop codon
a stop codon is a codon that signals the termination of the translation process of the current protein
thymine
a compound which is one of the four constituent bases of nucleic acids.
transcription
the action or process of transcribing something.
translation
the process of translating words or text from one language into another.
tRNA
is an adaptor molecule composed of RNA, typically 76 to 90 nucleotides in length.
uracil
a compound found in living tissue as a constituent base of RNA.
vesicle
an air-filled swelling in a plant, especially a seaweed.
