Genome
An organism's code of instructions for life; DNA.
Nucleotide
The building block of DNA made up of a nitrogen base, a sugar, and a phosphate group.
Nucleotide (Nitrogen) base
Chemicals that bond together in a DNA molecule (adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine).
Double helix
Twisted ladder structure of a DNA molecule.
Codon
Special markers made up of three nitrogen bases in the DNA that code for amino acids.
Amino acid
Building blocks of proteins.
Protein
Long chains of amino acids that determine traits.
Gene
A section of DNA on a chromosome that codes for specific protein that determines a trait.
chromosome
Long strands of DNA. Humans have 46.
Karyotype
An organized picture of a person's chromosomes.
DNA Replication
Process where cells make a copy of DNA molecule to prepare for division.
RNA
A molecule that is a copy of the information in the DNA that is used to build proteins.
Cell Differentiation
Process where cells become different type of cells (specialized) to perform specific functions (nerve, blood, muscle etc.)
Cell Cycle
The life cycle of a cell; including growth, development and division
Body cells
Produced through process of mitosis. Body cell are cells of an organism not involved in reproduction.
Sex cells
Produced through process of meiosis; reproductive cells (egg or sperm).
Mutation
Any random change in the nucleotide sequence of DNA.
Traits
Physical or behavioral characteristics of organisms.
Mitosis
Cell process that produces two daughters cells that are genetically identical to the parent cell. Creates body cells.
Meiosis
Cell process that produces four daughter cells with half the genetic information of the parent cell. Creates sex cells.