unit one - DNA and the genome Flashcards
what are primers ?
short strands of nucleotides that bind to the 3’ end of DNA templates.
what is PCR ?
a technique that amplifies DNA in vitro.
what is cellular differentiation ?
the process by which a cell expresses certain genes to produce proteins characteristic for that type of cell.
what are meristem ?
regions of unspecialised cells in plants that can divide to self renew or differentiate.
what are stem cells ?
unspecialised cells in animals that can divide to self renew or differentiate.
what is a pluripotent cell ?
a cell found in the blastocyst that can differentiate into all cell types (can express every gene.)
what is a multipotent cell ?
a cell found in the tissue that can only differentiate into thr types of cell found in a particular tissue type.
what is the genome ?
an organisms entire hereditary information encoded in DNA.
what is a gene ?
a DNA sequence that codes for proteins.
what are mutations ?
changes in the DNA that can result in no protein or an altered protein being synthesised.
what is a single gene mutation ?
alterations of a DNA nucleotide sequence including substitution (missense ,nonsense ,splice site) insertion and deletion.
what is a frame shift mutation ?
including insertion and deletion, this is a mutation that results in all codons after said mutation to be altered, changing all the amino acids after said mutation, causing a major effect on the structure and thus function of the protein produced.
what is a chromosome mutation ?
a mutation effecting the chromosome involving duplication deletion inversion and translocation.
what is evolution ?
the changes in organisms over generations as a result of genomic variation.
what is natural selection ?
the non random increase in the frequency of DNA sequences that increase survival and the non random decrease in the frequency of deleterious sequences.
what is stabilising selection ?
when an average phenotype is selected for.
what is directional selection ?
when one extreme of the phenotype is selected for.
what is disruptive selection ?
when two or more phenotypes are selected for.
what is horizontal gene transfer ?
when genes are transferred between individuals in the same generations.
what is vertical gene transfer ?
when genes are transferred from parent to offspring (different generations.)
what is a species ?
a group of organisms capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring.
what is speciation ?
the generation of a new biological species by evolution as a result of isolation mutation and selection.
what genomic sequencing ?
the sequence of nucleotide bases that can be determined for individual genes and entire genomes.
what is bioinformatics ?
the comparison of sequence data using computer and statistical analysis.
what is phylogenetics ?
the study of evolutionary history and relationships.
what is pharmogenetics ?
the use of genome information in the choice of drugs.
what is personalised medicine ?
when an individuals personal genome is used to select the most effective drugs and dosage to treat a disease.
