Unit 3 List 1 DNA & Heredity KYS 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 tRNA that binds to a codon in mRNA during protein synthesis
cell types
eukaryotic cells, which possess a nucleus, and prokaryotic cells, which lack a nucleus but have a nucleoid region
cell differentiation
the process of cells becoming specialized in their structures and function and performing a certain job in the body
chromosome
a DNA molecule that contains the genetic information for an organism
codon
three nucleotides in mRNA that determines the position of amino acids
cytoplasm
a thick solution that fills each cell and is enclosed by the cell membrane
cytosine
A chemical compound that is used to make one of the building blocks of DNA and RNA
deoxyribose
a pentose (5-carbon sugar) biological molecule
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 network of membranes inside a cell through which proteins and other molecules move
enzyme
proteins that help speed up metabolism, or the chemical reactions in our bodies
gene
The basic unit of heredity passed from parent to child
golgi apparatus
stack of small flat sacs formed by membranes inside the cell’s cytoplasm
guanine
A chemical compound that is used to make one of the building blocks of DNA and RNA. It is a type of purine
hydrogen bond
the electromagnetic attraction created between a partially positively charged hydrogen atom attached to a highly electronegative atom and another nearby electronegative atom
nitrogenous base
A molecule that contains nitrogen and has the chemical properties of a base; A,G,C,T/U
mRNA
messenger RNA, used to build proteins
mutation
Any change in the DNA sequence of a cell
nuclear membrane
a double layer that encloses the cell’s nucleus, where the chromosomes reside
nucleic acid
macromolecule; naturally occurring chemical compounds that serve as the primary information-carrying molecules in cells.
phosphate group
a phosphorus atom bound to four oxygen atoms, makes up nucleotide structure
nucleotide
the basic building block of nucleic acids (RNA and DNA)
nucleus
the structure in a cell that contains the chromosomes
peptide bond
a covalent bond that links amino acids together to form a protein
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
a complex molecular machine found inside the living cells that produce proteins from amino acids during a process called protein synthesis or translation.
RNA
a molecule that is present in the majority of living organisms and viruses; made up of nucleotides
rRNA
ribosomal RNA makes up part of ribosomes
start codon
the initial set of codons in an mRNA transcript that is 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 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 (mRNA)
tRNA
transfer RNA, carries amino acids
uracil
a nitrogenous base that is a component of RNA
vesicle
A small sac formed by a membrane and filled with liquid
