Chapter 3

Question 1

Genetics

Answer 1

The study of the basic structure and processes of DNA

Question 2

Genomics

Answer 2

The study of DNA including all associated molecules, chemicals and evolutionary patterns

Question 3

Human Genome

Answer 3

All the DNA in the human species

Question 4

Heredity

Answer 4

The passing of biological information from generation to generation (through reproduction)

Question 5

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)

Answer 5

The chemical compound found in most living organisms, that contains basic information for the structure of life

Question 6

Nucleotide Bases

Answer 6

The four chemical bases that make up the core portion of DNA (adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine)

Question 7

Chromosomes

Answer 7

Complex structures that house the supercoiled DNA in the nucleus

Question 8

Diploid

Answer 8

Having 46 chromosomes, arranged in 23 pairs

Question 9

Three Main Function of DNA

Answer 9

Replication (Making copies of itself), protein synthesis (helping in the creation of the molecules that make up organisms), and regulation (in the first two functions)

Question 10

Replication

Answer 10

The process by which DNA copies itself

Question 11

Mitosis

Answer 11

The process of cell division and replication

• Replaces body cells as they die or are otherwise lost
• Creates two diploid cells from one mother cell

Question 12

Meiosis

Answer 12

The production of gametes (haploid cells) [Sex cells]

-Creates four haploid cells w/23 chromosomes each

Question 13

Haploid

Answer 13

Having 23 single chromosomes half the genetic complement; found in gametes

Question 14

Recombination

Answer 14

Shuffling of maternal and paternal chromosomes during meiosis
-Different combinations of the chromosomes from the parents

Question 15

Crossing Over

Answer 15

Genetic material on a chromosome from one parent is exchanged with the same section of the matching chromosome from the other parent

Question 16

Proteins

Answer 16

Building blocks of organic life

-Composed of a string of amino acids

Question 17

Protein Synthesis

Answer 17

The process by which the nucleotide “message” is taken from a gene, transcribed, and translated into a protein

Question 18

Amino Acids

Answer 18

Building blocks of proteins

Question 19

Polypeptide

Answer 19

A string of amino acids that folds in on itself and becomes a protein

Question 20

Triplet

Answer 20

• Three-nucleotide sequence
• A sequence for an amino acid
• Each triplet is a specific amino acid

Question 21

Transcription

Answer 21

Copying the DNA message to RNA

Question 22

Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)

Answer 22

A molecule similiar to DNA that is responsible for taking the message from the DNA in the nucleus of a cell to the ribosome in the cytoplasm and facilitating translation into a protein

Question 23

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

Answer 23

The form of RNA that takes the transcribed DNA message to the ribosome

Question 24

Codon

Answer 24

A three-nucleotide sequence in which the DNA’s triplet code is written onto the mRNA

Question 25

Translation

Answer 25

Converting the mRNA message into a protein

Question 26

Ribosome

Answer 26

site of protein synthesis

Question 27

Transfer RNA (tRNA)

Answer 27

Form of RNA that brings amino acids to the ribosome

Question 28

Anticodon

Answer 28

Three-nucleotide sequence on a tRNA molecule that helps match the appropriate amino acid with a specific mRNA codon

Question 29

Gene

Answer 29

Segement of DNA that contains the sequence for a protein

Question 30

Allele

Answer 30

A variant sequence of nucleotides in a gene; a form of gene

Question 31

Genotype

Answer 31

The alleles in an organism's DNA

Question 32

Phenotype

Answer 32

An organism's observable, measurable traits

Question 33

Homozygous

Answer 33

having the same allele at both loci for the same gene

Question 34

Heterozygous

Answer 34

having different alleles at both loci for the same gene

Question 35

Locus

Answer 35

The place on a chromosome where a specific gene occurs

Question 36

Polygenic

Answer 36

The situation wherein many genes combine to have one effect

Question 37

Pleiotropic

Answer 37

The situation wherein one gene has many effects

Question 38

Inactive DNA

Answer 38

- has a regulatory purpose | - serves as a reserve for genetic variation

Question 39

Enzyme

Answer 39

molecules that help to start, regulate, maintain, and stop the processes (of DNA)

Question 40

Translocation

Answer 40

Parts of different chromosomes are exchanged

Question 41

Epigenetics

Answer 41

Examines how genes are turned on and off during gene expression (non-genetic influences) - different genes are active in different types of cells - environmental factors can affect the activation of genes

Question 42

Mendel's Law of Segregation

Answer 42

- Gametes only have one pair of each gene | - When sexual reproduction occurs, the alleles from each parent are paired

Question 43

Mendel's Law of Independent Assortment

Answer 43

Genes are inherited independently of one another

Question 44

Co-Dominant Alleles

Answer 44

Both alleles are expressed

Question 45

Polygenic Traits

Answer 45

Traits resulting from the interaction of several alleles to produce different genotypes and phenotypes -Complex trait

Question 46

Pleiotropy

Answer 46

One gene has an effect on multiple traits