Micro Lecture Exam 2 Vocab

Front 1

mRNA

Back 1

Molecules that carry genetic info from chromosomes to ribosomes

Front 2

tRNA

Back 2

Molecules that deliver amino acids to ribosomes based on the sequence of nucleotides in mRNA.

Front 3

Biotechnology

Back 3

The use of microorganisms to make practical products

Front 4

Genetic Engineering

Back 4

The direct manipulation of an organisms genome by using biotechnology.

Front 5

Mutagen

Back 5

Produce a mutation in genes that can be caused by chemicals or ultraviolet radiation.

Front 6

Cellular respiration

Back 6

Metabolic process involving the complete oxidation of substrate molecules & production of ATP via a series of redox reactions

Front 7

Concentration gradient

Back 7

The difference in concentration of a chemical on the 2 sides of the membrane.

Front 8

Codon

Back 8

Triplet of RNA nucleotides that codes for for specific amino acids

Front 9

Complementary DNA

Back 9

DNA synthesized from an mRNA template via reverse transcriptase

Front 10

Chromosome

Back 10

A molecule of DNA associated w/ protein. In eukaryotes, threadlike. In prokaryotes their circular & found in the cytosol of the cell

Front 11

Chromatin

Back 11

Threadlike mass of DNA & histone proteins

Front 12

Defined medium

Back 12

Medium of which the exact chemical composition is known

Front 13

Differential medium

Back 13

Culture medium that allows 2 or more organisms to be distinguished from one another by growth, color, &/or morphology.

Front 14

Denaturation

Back 14

Process by which a proteins 3D structure is altered, eliminating function

Front 15

Glycolysis

Back 15

First step in the catabolism of glucose via respiration & fermwntation

Front 16

Krebs Cycle

Back 16

Series of 8 enzymatically catalyzed reactions that transfer stored energy from acetyl-CoA to coenzymes NAD+ & FAD

Front 17

Acetyl-CoA Synthesis

Back 17

Generated by oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate from glycolysis

Front 18

Electron transport chain

Back 18

Series of redox reactions passing e-‘s from one membrane bound carrier to another, & then to a final e- acceptor.

Front 19

Chemiosmosis

Back 19

Use of ion gradient to generate ATP

Front 20

Fermentation

Back 20

Process that compliments glycolysis to keep running even in the absence of O2

Front 21

Proton gradient

Back 21

Electrochemical gradient of hydrogen ions across a membrane.

Front 22

High energy e- carrier

Back 22

Refers to the reduced forms of NAD+ coenzymes used to transfer e- during oxidative phosphorylation

Front 23

Undefined medium

Back 23

Have some complex ingredients consisting of an unmeasurable mixture of several unknown species

Front 24

Genome

Back 24

Sum of all the genetic material in a cell or virus.

Front 25

Obligate aerobe

Back 25

Microorganism that requires oxygen as the final e- acceptor of the ETC

Front 26

Obligate anaerobe

Back 26

Microorganism that cannot tolerate oxygen & replaces it w/ a different final e- acceptor

Front 27

DNA Replication

Back 27

Biological process of producing 2 identical replicas of DNA from 1 original DNA molecule.

Front 28

Translation

Back 28

Sequence of genetic info carried by mRNA is used by ribosomes to construct polypeptides w/ specific amino acid sequences

Front 29

Transcription

Back 29

Process in which the genetic code from DNA is copied as RNA nucleotides

Front 30

Intron

Back 30

Noncoding sequence of mRNA that’s removed to make functional mRNA

Front 31

Exon

Back 31

Coding sequence of DNA

Front 32

Promoter

Back 32

Region of DNA where transcription begins

Front 33

DNA Polymerase

Back 33

Enzymes that synthesize DNA molecules from deoxyribonucleotides

Front 34

RNA Polymerase

Back 34

Enzyme that synthesizes RNA by linking nucleotides

Front 35

Ribosomes

Back 35

Found in the cytoplasm & often attach to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. (Found in both Prok. & Euk.)

Front 36

Histone

Back 36

Globular protein found in eukaryotic & archaeal chromosomes

Front 37

Leading Strand

Back 37

Strand of DNA being replicated continuously that is made in the 5’ to 3’ direction.

Front 38

Lagging strand

Back 38

Requires a slight delay before undergoing replication. Undergoes replication discontinuously in small fragments.

Front 39

Facultative anaerobe

Back 39

Microorganism that can live w/ or w/o oxygen

Front 40

Microaerophile

Back 40

Microorganism that requires low levels of oxygen

Front 41

Mutation

Back 41

Genetically, a permanent change in the nucleotide base sequence of a genome

Front 42

Reverse transcription

Back 42

Complex enzyme that allows retroviruses to make DNA from RNA.

Front 43

Polymerase chain reaction

Back 43

A repetitive process that alternatively separates & replicates the 2 strands of DNA

Front 44

Primer

Back 44

A short strand of DNA or RNA that serves as a starting point for DNA synthesis.

Front 45

Plasmid

Back 45

Small circular molecule of DNA that replicates independently of the chromosome.

Front 46

Thermocycler

Back 46

Device used to amplify segments of DNA via PCR