Unit 6 - Gene Expression Flashcards
Karyotype
An individual’s complete set of chromosomes
Gene
The basic unit of heredity passed from parent to child (sequences of DNA)
DNA ligase
an enzyme that joins DNA strands through the formation of phosphodiester bonds
DNA polymerase
a type of enzyme that is responsible for forming new copies of DNA, in the form of nucleic acid molecules.
RNA polymerase
an enzyme that is responsible for copying a DNA sequence into an RNA sequence during the process of transcription
semiconservative replication
each newly made DNA molecule has one original and one new strand of DNA
Okazaki fragments
small sections of DNA that are formed during discontinuous synthesis of the lagging strand during DNA replication
Primer
a short nucleic acid sequence that provides a starting point for DNA synthesis
mRNA
type of single-stranded RNA involved in protein synthesis by carrying the genetic information needed to make proteins
rRNA
molecule in cells that forms part of the protein-synthesizing organelle known as a ribosome.
tRNA
a small RNA molecule that plays a key role in protein synthesis as it serves as a link between mRNA and the growing chain of amino acids.
Mutation
change in the DNA sequence of an organism
Clone
exact carbon copy or copies of a single genetical parent
Transcription
the process by which a cell makes an RNA copy of a piece of DNA.
Translation
the process of translating the sequence of a mRNA molecule to a sequence of amino acids during protein synthesis.
Exon
a region of the genome that ends up within an mRNA molecule.
Intron
any nucleotide sequence within a gene that is not expressed or operative in the final RNA product
Promoter
a region of DNA upstream of a gene where relevant proteins (such as RNA polymerase and transcription factors) bind to initiate transcription of that gene.
Codon
a three-letter genetic sequence found in both DNA and RNA.
Anticodon
a trinucleotide sequence located at one end of a transfer RNA (tRNA) molecule, which is complementary to a corresponding codon in a messenger RNA (mRNA) sequence.
Deletion
A type of genetic change that involves the absence of a segment of DNA.
Frameshift mutation
genetic mutation caused by a deletion or insertion in a DNA sequence that shifts the way the sequence is read
Insertion
a type of mutation that involves the addition of one or more nucleotides into a segment of DNA
gene expression
he process by which the information encoded in a gene is used to direct the assembly of a protein molecule.
Activator
a molecule that increases the activity of an enzyme or a protein that increases the production of a gene product in DNA transcription.
Repressor
proteins that turn off or reduce gene expression, which is reflected by reduced messenger RNA production from the affected gene
Operator
the DNA segment where the repressor molecule binds to the operon model.
Operon
a cluster of genes that are transcribed together to give a single messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule, which therefore encodes multiple proteins
Gene mutation
changes to your DNA sequence that happen during cell division when your cells make copies of themselves.
Epigenetic
the study of how your behaviors and environment can cause changes that affect the way your genes work.
