Transformation
process in which one strain of bacteria is changed by a gene or genes from another strain of bacteria
Bacteriophage
kind of virus that infects bacteria
Base Pairing
principle that bonds in DNA can form only between adenine and thymine and between guanine and cytosine
Replication
process of copying DNA prior to cell division
DNA Polymerase
principle enzyme involved in DNA replication
Telomere
repetitive DNA at the end of a eukaryotic chromosome
RNA
single-stranded nucleic acid that contains the sugar ribose
Messenger RNA
type of RNA that carries copies of instructions for the assembly if amino acids into proteins from DNA to the rest of the cell
Ribosomal RNA
type of RNA that combines with proteins to form ribosomes
Transfer RNA
type of RNA that carries each amino acid to a ribosome during protein synthesis
Transcription
synthesis of an RNA molecule from a DNA template
RNA Polymerase
enzyme that links together the growing chain of RNA nucleotides during transcription using a DNA strand as a template
Promoter
specific region of a gene where RNA polymerase can bind and begin transcription
Intron
sequence of DNA that is not involved in coding for a protein
Exon
expressed sequence of DNA; codes for a protein
Polypeptide
long chain of amino acids that makes proteins
Genetic Code
collection of codons of mRNA, each of which directs the incorporation of a particular amino acid into a protein during protein synthesis
Codon
group of three nucleotide bases in mRNA that specify a particular amino acid to be incorporated into a protein
Translation
process by which the sequence of bases of an mRNA is converted into the sequence of amino acids of a protein
Anticodon
group of three bases on a tRNA molecule that are complimentary to the three bases of a codon of mRNA
Gene Expression
process by which a gene produces its product and the product carries out its function
Mutation
change in the genetic material of a cell
Point Mutation
gene mutation in which a single base pair in DNA has been changed
Frameshift Mutation
mutation that shifts the "reading frame" of the genetic message by inserting or deleting a nucleotide
Mutagen
chemical or physical agents in the environment that interact with DNA and may cause a mutation
Polyploidy
condition in which an organism has extra sets of chromosomes
Operon
in prokaryotes, a group of adjacent genes that shares a common operator and promoter and are transcribed into a single mRNA
Operator
short DNA region, adjacent to the promoter of a prokaryotic operon, that binds repressor proteins responsible for controlling the rate of transcription of the operon
RNA Interference
introduction of double-stranded RNA into a cell to inhibit gene expression
Differentiation
Process in which cells become specialized in structure and function
Homeotic Gene
class of regulatory genes that determine the identify of body parts and regions in an animal embryo. Mutations in these genes can transform one body part into another
Homeobox Gene
genes that code for transcription factors that activate other genes that are important in cell development and differentiation
Hox Gene
a group of homeotic genes clustered together that determine the head to tail identity of body parts in animals. All hox genes contain the homeobox DNA sequence
lac operon
cluster of 3 genes that must be turned on together before the bacterium in E. coli can use the sugar lactose as a food
lac Repressor
if gene is overwhelmed, it can repress the coding of the gene
Promoter
site where RNA-polymerase can bind to begin with transcription
Operator
O" site is where a DNA-binding protein known as the lac repressor can bind to DNA
TATA Box
binds a protein that helps position RNA polymerase by marking a point just before the beginning of a gene