Chapter 12 DNA and RNA Vocabulary Terms
Terms
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- Transfer RNA
- type of RNA molecule that transfers amino acids to ribosomes during protein synthesis.
- Messenger RNA
- RNA molecule that carries copies of instructions for the assembly of amino acids into proteins from DNA to the rest of the cell.
- Ribosomal RNA
- type of RNA that makes up the major part of ribosomes.
- Transformation
- the process in which one strain of bacteria changes into another one.
- bacteriophage
- a virus that infects and kills bacteria.
- helix
- shape formed by each stand of DNA
- replication
- process in which DNA makes a copy of itself
- DNA polymerase
- the principle enzyme involved in DNA replication
- histone
- protein that DNA wraps around in eukaryotic chromosomes.
- promoter
- signal in DNA that indicates to enzymes where to bind to make RNA
- introns
- three nucleotides that specify a single amino acid to be added to a polypeptide.
- codon
- gene that is transcribed into RNA
- mutation
- a change in DNA sequence that affects genetic information.
- expressed gene
- sections of RNA molecules that are removed before a eukaryotic gene becomes functional
- operon
- a group of genes that is operated together.
- nucleotides
- made up of three parts: a deoxyribose molecule, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.
- base pairing
- the principle that states that hydrogen bonds can form only between certain bases in DNA.
- chromatin
- Eukaryotic chromosomes contain both DNA and protein tightly packed together to form a substance.
- transcription
- RNA molecules are produced by copying part of the nucleotide sequence of DNA into a complementary sequence in RNA.
- RNA polymerase
- The enzyme that uses one strand of DNA as a template to assemble nucleotides into a strand of RNA.
- exons
- after introns have been cut out of RNA molecules, the remaining pieces are spliced together.
- translation
- the decoding of a mRNA message into a protein
- anticodon
- The three bases on the tRNA molecule that are complementary to one of the mRNA condons
- hox genes
- a series of genes that controls organs and tissues that develope in various parts of the embryo.