Molecular Genetics

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Complementary base pairing

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Pairing of the nitrogenous base of one night strand of DNA with the nitrogenous base or another strand

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Antiparallel

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Parallel but running in opposite directions; the 5' end of one strand of DNA aligns with the 3' end of the other strand in a double helix

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DNA replication

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The process whereby DNA makes exact copies of itself

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Semiconservative replication

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Process of replication in which each DNA molecule is composed of one parent strand and one newly synthesized strand

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Template

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A single-stranded DNA sequence that acts as the guiding pattern for producing a complementary DNA strand

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DNA helicase

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The enzyme that unwinds double-helical DNA by disrupting hydrogen bonds

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DNA Polymerase III

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The enzyme that synthesizes complementary strands of DNA during DNA replication

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Leading strand

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The new strand of DNA that is synthesized towards the replication fork and in short fragments, which are later joined together

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DNA polymerase I

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And enzyme that removes RNA primers and replaces them with the appropriate nucleotides during DNA replication

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DNA ligase

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And enzyme that joins DNA fragments together

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Gene expression

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Conversion of a gene into a specific trait through the production of a particular polypeptide

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Ribonucleic acid (RNA)

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A nucleic acid consisting of nucleotides comprised of the sugar ribose and nitrogenous of the sugar ribose and nitrogenous bases

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Transcription

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The process of converting DNA into messenger RNA

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Messenger RNA (mRNA)

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The product of transcription of a gene; mRNA is transplanted by ribosomes into protein

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Translation

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The process of synthesizing a specific polypeptide as coded for by messenger RNA

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RNA polymerase

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Enzyme that transcribes DNA

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Promoter

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Sequence of DNA that binds RNA polymerase in front end of a gene

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Template strand

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The strand of DNA that the RNA polymerase uses as a guide to build complementary mRNA

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Termination sequence

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Sequence of bases at the end of a gene that signals the RNA polymerase to stop transcribing

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Codon

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Sequence of three bases in DNA or complementary mRNA that serves as a code for a particular amino acid

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Start codon

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Specific codon (AUG) that signals that start of translation

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Stop codon

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Specific codon that signals the end of translation

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Ribosome

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An organelle composed of RNA and protein and located in the cytoplasm that carries out protein synthesis

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Transfer RNA (tRNA)

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The form of RNA that delivers amino acids to a ribosome during translation

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Anticodon

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Group of three complementary bases on tRNA that recognizes and pairs with a codon on the mRNA

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Recombinant DNA

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Fragment of DNA composed of sequences originating from at least two different sources

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Genetic transformation

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Introduction and expression of foreign DNA in a living organism

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Restriction endonuclease

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And enzyme that cuts double-stranded DNA into fragments at a specific sequence; also known as a restriction endonuclease recognizes and cuts

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Palindromic

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Reading the same backwards and forwards

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Sticky ends

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Fragment ends of a DNA molecule with short single stranded overhangs, resulting from cleavage by a restriction enzyme

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Blunt ends

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Fragment ends of a DNA molecule that are fully base paired, resulting from cleavage by a restriction enzyme

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Methylase

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And enzyme that adds a methyl group to one of the nucleotides found in a restriction endonuclease recognition site

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Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

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A technique for amplifying a DNA sequence by repeated cycles of strand separation and replication

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Vector

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A vehicle by which forgein DNA may be introduced into a cell

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Transgenic

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A cell or an organism that is transformed by DNA from another species

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Plasmid

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A small double-stranded circular DNA molecule found in some bacteria

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Multiple-cloning site

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A region in a vector that is engineered to contain the recognition site of a number of restriction enzymes

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Point mutation

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A mutation at a specific base pair

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Gene mutation

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A mutation that changes the coding for amino acids

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Silent mutation

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A mutation that does not result in a change in the amino acid coded for

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Missense mutation

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A mutation that results in the single substitution of one amino acid into a stop codon

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Deletion

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The elimination of base pairs from a DNA sequence

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Insertion

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The placement of an extra nucleotide in a DNA sequence

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Frameshift mutation

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A mutation that causes the reading frame of codons to change

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Translocation

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The transfer of a fragment of DNA from one site in the genome to another location

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Inversion

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The reversal of a segment of DNA within a chromosome

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Spontaneous mutation

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A mutation occurring as a result of errors made in DNA replication

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Mutagenic agent

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An agent that can cause a mutation

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Induced mutation

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A mutation caused by a chemical agent or radiation

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Phylogeny

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Proposed evolutionary history of a species or group of organisms

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SINEs

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Repeated DNA sequences 300 base pairs long that alternate with lengths of DNA sequences found in the genomes of higher organisms

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LINEs

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Repeated DNA sequences 5000 to 7000 base pairs long that alternate with lengths of DNA sequences found in the genomes of higher organisms