Ap Bio Ch17 Vocab

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Transcription

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The synthesis of RNA from a DNA template.

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Messenger RNA

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The form of RNA that carries information from DNA in the nucleus to the ribosome sites of protein synthesis in the cell.

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Translation

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The synthesis of a protein using the genetic information encoded in an mRNA molecule.

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RNA Processing

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Modification of RNA before it leaves the nucleus, a process unique to eukaryotes.

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Primary Transcript

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An initial RNA transcript; also called pre-mRNA when transcribed from a protein-coding gene.

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Triplet Code

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A set of three-nucleotide-long words that specify the amino acids for polypeptide chains.

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Template Strand

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The DNA strand that provides the template for ordering the sequence of nucleotides in an RNA transcript.

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RNA Polymerase

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An enzyme that links together the growing chain of ribonucleotides during transcription.

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Transcription Unit

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A segment of DNA that contains transcription initiation and termination sites, and is transcribed into a single RNA molecule.

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Transcription Factors

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A regulatory protein that binds to DNA and stimulates transcription of specific genes.

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Transcription Initiation

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The assembly of the complex of proteins that will subsequently copy the gene into RNA.

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Aminoacetyl-tRNA Synthetase

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An enzyme that joins each amino acid to the correct tRNA.

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Terminator

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In prokaryotes, a special sequence of nucleotides in DNA that marks the end of a gene. It signals RNA polymerase to release the newly made RNA molecule.

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RNA Splicing

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The removal of noncoding proteins (introns) of the RNA molecule after initial synthesis.

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Exon

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A segment of a DNA or RNA molecule containing information coding for a protein or peptide sequence.

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Intron

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A segment of a DNA or RNA molecule that does not code for proteins and is cut from the molecule.

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Transfer RNA

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An RNA molecule that transfers a specific active amino acid to a growing polypeptide chain that was formed from the correct codons.

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Anticodon

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A sequence of three nucleotides forming a unit of genetic code in a transfer RNA molecule, corresponding to a complementary codon in messenger RNA.

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Ribosomal RNA

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The most abundant type of RNA, which together with proteins forms the structure of ribosomes.

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Codon

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A specific sequence of three adjacent nucleotides on a strand of DNA or RNA that specifies the genetic code information for synthesizing a particular amino acid.

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Point Mutation

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A change in a gene at a single nucleotide pair.

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Nonsense Mutation

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A mutation that changes an amino acid codon to one of the three stop codons, resulting in a shorter and usually nonfunctional protein.

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Insertion

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A mutation involving the addition of one or more nucleotide pairs to a gene.

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Deletion

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A mutational loss of one or more nucleotide pairs from a gene.

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Frameshift Mutation

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A mutation where the number of nucleotides inserted of deleted is not divisible by 3, resulting in the improper grouping of the following nucleotides into codons.

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Mutagens

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A chemical or physical agent that interacts with DNA and causes a mutation.

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Mutation

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A change in the DNA of a gene, ultimately creating genetic diversity.