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Flashcards in Chapter 3 Deck (46)
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1
Q

Genetics

A

The study of the basic structure and processes of DNA

2
Q

Genomics

A

The study of DNA including all associated molecules, chemicals and evolutionary patterns

3
Q

Human Genome

A

All the DNA in the human species

4
Q

Heredity

A

The passing of biological information from generation to generation (through reproduction)

5
Q

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)

A

The chemical compound found in most living organisms, that contains basic information for the structure of life

6
Q

Nucleotide Bases

A

The four chemical bases that make up the core portion of DNA (adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine)

7
Q

Chromosomes

A

Complex structures that house the supercoiled DNA in the nucleus

8
Q

Diploid

A

Having 46 chromosomes, arranged in 23 pairs

9
Q

Three Main Function of DNA

A

Replication (Making copies of itself), protein synthesis (helping in the creation of the molecules that make up organisms), and regulation (in the first two functions)

10
Q

Replication

A

The process by which DNA copies itself

11
Q

Mitosis

A

The process of cell division and replication

  • Replaces body cells as they die or are otherwise lost
  • Creates two diploid cells from one mother cell
12
Q

Meiosis

A

The production of gametes (haploid cells) [Sex cells]

-Creates four haploid cells w/23 chromosomes each

13
Q

Haploid

A

Having 23 single chromosomes half the genetic complement; found in gametes

14
Q

Recombination

A

Shuffling of maternal and paternal chromosomes during meiosis
-Different combinations of the chromosomes from the parents

15
Q

Crossing Over

A

Genetic material on a chromosome from one parent is exchanged with the same section of the matching chromosome from the other parent

16
Q

Proteins

A

Building blocks of organic life

-Composed of a string of amino acids

17
Q

Protein Synthesis

A

The process by which the nucleotide “message” is taken from a gene, transcribed, and translated into a protein

18
Q

Amino Acids

A

Building blocks of proteins

19
Q

Polypeptide

A

A string of amino acids that folds in on itself and becomes a protein

20
Q

Triplet

A
  • Three-nucleotide sequence
  • A sequence for an amino acid
  • Each triplet is a specific amino acid
21
Q

Transcription

A

Copying the DNA message to RNA

22
Q

Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)

A

A molecule similiar to DNA that is responsible for taking the message from the DNA in the nucleus of a cell to the ribosome in the cytoplasm and facilitating translation into a protein

23
Q

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

A

The form of RNA that takes the transcribed DNA message to the ribosome

24
Q

Codon

A

A three-nucleotide sequence in which the DNA’s triplet code is written onto the mRNA

25
Q

Translation

A

Converting the mRNA message into a protein

26
Q

Ribosome

A

site of protein synthesis

27
Q

Transfer RNA (tRNA)

A

Form of RNA that brings amino acids to the ribosome

28
Q

Anticodon

A

Three-nucleotide sequence on a tRNA molecule that helps match the appropriate amino acid with a specific mRNA codon

29
Q

Gene

A

Segement of DNA that contains the sequence for a protein

30
Q

Allele

A

A variant sequence of nucleotides in a gene; a form of gene

31
Q

Genotype

A

The alleles in an organism’s DNA

32
Q

Phenotype

A

An organism’s observable, measurable traits

33
Q

Homozygous

A

having the same allele at both loci for the same gene

34
Q

Heterozygous

A

having different alleles at both loci for the same gene

35
Q

Locus

A

The place on a chromosome where a specific gene occurs

36
Q

Polygenic

A

The situation wherein many genes combine to have one effect

37
Q

Pleiotropic

A

The situation wherein one gene has many effects

38
Q

Inactive DNA

A
  • has a regulatory purpose

- serves as a reserve for genetic variation

39
Q

Enzyme

A

molecules that help to start, regulate, maintain, and stop the processes (of DNA)

40
Q

Translocation

A

Parts of different chromosomes are exchanged

41
Q

Epigenetics

A

Examines how genes are turned on and off during gene expression (non-genetic influences)

  • different genes are active in different types of cells
  • environmental factors can affect the activation of genes
42
Q

Mendel’s Law of Segregation

A
  • Gametes only have one pair of each gene

- When sexual reproduction occurs, the alleles from each parent are paired

43
Q

Mendel’s Law of Independent Assortment

A

Genes are inherited independently of one another

44
Q

Co-Dominant Alleles

A

Both alleles are expressed

45
Q

Polygenic Traits

A

Traits resulting from the interaction of several alleles to produce different genotypes and phenotypes
-Complex trait

46
Q

Pleiotropy

A

One gene has an effect on multiple traits