DNA & Protein Synthesis Vocabulary

Question 1

DNA

Answer 1

Definition:

A molecule that encodes the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms and many viruses.

Example:

DNA is responsible for our inherited traits.

Question 2

Double Helix

Answer 2

Definition:

A pair of parallel helices intertwined about a common axis.

Example:

DNA is in the shape of a double helix.

Question 3

Gene

Answer 3

Definition:

A unit of heredity that is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring.

Example:

Our genes come from our parents.

Question 4

Chromosome

Answer 4

Definition:

A threadlike structure of nucleic acids and protein found in the nucleus of most living cells, carrying genetic information in the form of genes.

Example:

Every person is made up of 46 chromosomes.

Question 5

Trait

Answer 5

Definition:

A genetically determined characteristic.

Example:

Everyone has different traits.

Question 6

Genetic Code

Answer 6

Definition:

The nucleotide triplets of DNA and RNA molecules that carry genetic information in living cells.

Example:

The genetic code can be expressed as either RNA codons or DNA codons.

Question 7

Nucleotide

Answer 7

Definition:

A compound consisting of a nucleoside linked to a phosphate group.

Example:

An example of a nucleotide is Adenine.

Question 8

Sugar

Answer 8

Definition:

Any of the class of soluble, crystalline, typically sweet-tasting carbohydrates found in living tissues.

Example:

We put sugar on our food to make it taste sweet.

Question 9

Phosphate

Answer 9

Definition:

An ester of phosphoric acid.

Example:

Phosphate is an inorganic chemical.

Question 10

Base

Answer 10

Definition:

Substances that accept protons from acids.

Example:

Thymine is an example of a base.

Question 11

Adenine

Answer 11

Definition:

A compound that is one of the four constituent bases of nucleic acids.

Example:

Adenine is paired with Thymine.

Question 12

Thymine

Answer 12

Definition:

One of the four nucleobases in the nucleic acid of DNA.

Example:

Thymine is part of the pyrimidine family.

Question 13

Guanine

Answer 13

Definition:

One of the four nucleotide bases of genetic code.

Example:

Guanine is part of the Purine family.

Question 14

Cytosine

Answer 14

Definition:

A compound found in living tissue as a constituent base of nucleic acids.

Example:

Cytosine is paired with Guanine.

Question 15

Uracil

Answer 15

Definition:

A compound found in living tissue as a constituent base of RNA.

Example:

Uracil takes the place of Thymine in RNA.

Question 16

Complementary Base Pairs

Answer 16

Definition:

Either of the nucleotide bases linked by a hydrogen bond on opposite strands of DNA or double-stranded RNA.

Example:

The complementary base pairs of DNA are Adenine-Thymine and Guanine-Cytosine.

Question 17

Complementary Strands

Answer 17

Definition:

A section of one nucleic acid chain that is bonded to another by a sequence of base pairs.

Example:

DNA has complementary strands.

Question 18

Hydrogen Bond

Answer 18

Definition:

A chemical bond in which a hydrogen atom of one molecule is attracted to an electronegative atom.

Example:

A hydrogen is a weak type of bond.

Question 19

Deoxyribose

Answer 19

Definition:

A sugar derived from ribose by replacing a hydroxyl group with hydrogen.

Example:

Deoxyribose is a monosaccharide.

Question 20

DNA Polmerase

Answer 20

Definition:

An enzyme that creates DNA molecules by assembling nucleotides.

Example:

DNA Polymerase duplicates our genetic information.

Question 21

DNA Replication

Answer 21

Definition:

The process of producing two identical replicas from one original DNA molecule.

Example:

During DNA replication, both strands of the double helix act as templates for the formation of new DNA molecules.

Question 22

Semiconservative

Answer 22

Definition:

Relating to or denoting replication of a nucleic acid in which one complete strand of each double helix is directly derived from the parent molecule.

Example:

The semi-conservative model of DNA replication states that the two strands of DNA are separated and individually copied.

Question 23

Replication Fork

Answer 23

Definition:

The point at which the two strands of DNA are separated to allow replication of each strand.

Example:

The replication fork is y-shaped.

Question 24

Helicase

Answer 24

Definition:

A class of enzymes vital to all living organisms whose main function is to unpackage an organism’s genes.

Example:

Helicase unzips both DNA and RNA.

Question 25

**_Amino Acid_**

Answer 25

**_Definition:_** Biologically important organic compounds composed of amine and carboxylic acid functional groups. **_Example:_** Amino acids bond together to make long chains.

Question 26

**_Protein_**

Answer 26

**_Definition:_** Any of a class of nitrogenous organic compounds that consist of large molecules composed of one or more long chains of amino acids. **_Example:_** Protein plays a vital role in the body, like building and maintaining muscles, organs and other tissue.

Question 27

**_Polypeptide_**

Answer 27

**_Definition:_** A linear organic polymer consisting of a large number of amino-acid residues bonded together in a chain, forming part of (or all of) a protein molecule. **_Example:_** Proteins are made up of one or more polypeptide molecules.

Question 28

**_Peptide Bond_**

Answer 28

**_Definition:_** A peptide bond is a chemical bond formed between two molecules when the carboxyl group of one molecule reacts with the amino group of the other molecule. **_Example:_** A polypeptide bond usually occurs between amino acids.

Question 29

**_Protein Synthesis_**

Answer 29

**_Definition:_** The process by which individual cells construct proteins. **_Example:_** Protein synthesis is the process by which individual cells construct proteins.

Question 30

**_Gene Expression_**

Answer 30

**_Definition:_** The process by which genetic instructions are used to make gene products. **_Example:_** Information from a gene is synthesized during gene expression.

Question 31

**_RNA_**

Answer 31

**_Definition:_** One of the three major biological macromolecules that are essential for all known forms of life. **_Example:_** RNA is single-stranged.

Question 32

**_Transfer RNA_**

Answer 32

**_Definition:_** A type of RNA molecule that helps decode a messenger RNA sequence into a protein. **_Example:_** Transfer RNA is made of nucleotides, like all RNA.

Question 33

**_Messenger RNA_**

Answer 33

**_Definition:_** RNA molecules that convey genetic information from DNA to the ribosome. **_Example:_** Codons are on mRNA.

Question 34

**_Ribosomal RNA_**

Answer 34

**_Definition:_** A molecule in cells that forms part of the protein-synthesizing organelle known as a ribosome. **_Example:_** Ribosomal RNA is synthesized in the nucleolus.

Question 35

**_RNA Polymerase_**

Answer 35

**_Definition:_** An enzyme that produces RNA. **_Example:_** RNA Polymerase reads DNA and then produces RNA.

Question 36

**_Transcription_**

Answer 36

**_Definition:_** The process by which genetic information represented by a sequence of DNA nucleotides is copied into newly synthesized molecules of RNA. **_Example:_** Transcription ends with proteins.

Question 37

**_Translation_**

Answer 37

**_Definition:_** The process by which a sequence of nucleotide triplets in a messenger RNA molecule gives rise to a specific sequence of amino acids during synthesis of a polypeptide or protein. **_Example:_** During translation, an mRNA sequence is read using the genetic code.

Question 38

**_Codon_**

Answer 38

**_Definition:_** A sequence of three nucleotides that together form a unit of genetic code in a DNA or RNA molecule. **_Example:_** Every codon codes for a specific amino acid.

Question 39

**_Start/Stop Codon_**

Answer 39

**_Definition:_** The start codon marks the site at which translation into protein sequence begins, and the stop codon marks the site at which translation ends. **_Example:_** Start codons are at the beginning and stop codons are at the end.

Question 40

**_Terminator_**

Answer 40

**_Definition:_** A sequence of polynucleotides that causes transcription to end and the newly synthesized nucleic acid to be released from the template molecule. **_Example:_** A terminator terminates the sequence.

Question 41

**_Ribosome_**

Answer 41

**_Definition:_** A minute particle consisting of RNA and associated proteins. **_Example:_** Ribosomes are found in the cytoplasm.

Question 42

**_Anticodon_**

Answer 42

**_Defintion:_** A sequence of three nucleotides forming a unit of genetic code in a transfer RNA molecule. **_Example:_** Anticodons correspond to a complementray codon in mRNA.

Question 43

**_Central Dogma_**

Answer 43

**_Definition:_** The two-step process, transcription and translation, by which the information in genes flows into proteins. **_Example:_** The Central Dogma goes: DNA to RNA to Proteins.

Question 44

**_Point Mutation_**

Answer 44

**_Definition:_** A mutation affecting only one or very few nucleotides in a gene sequence. **_Example:_** Point Mutations are small.

Question 45

**_Substitution Mutation_**

Answer 45

**_Definition:_** A type of mutation where one base pair is replaced by a different base pair. **_Example:_** Substitution Mutation can cause an entire protein to change.

Question 46

**_Deletion Mutation_**

Answer 46

**_Definition:_** A mutation in which a part of a chromosome or a sequence of DNA is missing. **_Example:_** When Deletion Mutation occurs, large pieces of a chromosome can be missing.

Question 47

**_Insertion Mutation_**

Answer 47

**_Definition:_** The addition of one or more nucleotide base pairs into a DNA sequence. **_Example:_** Insertion Mutation will cause a protein to change, since there are extra nucleotides.

Question 48

**_Chromosomal Mutation_**

Answer 48

**_Definition:_** A missing, extra, or irregular portion of chromosomal DNA. **_Example:_** There are multiple types of Chromosomal Mutations.

Question 49

**_Large Scale Mutation_**

Answer 49

**_Definition:_** A mutation that occurs on a grander scale than other mutations. **_Example:_** Large scale mutations have more effects on the chromosome.

Question 50

**_Inversion Mutation_**

Answer 50

**_Definition:_** A mutation where an entire section of DNA is reversed. **_Example:_** An Inversion Mutation will most likely cause a drastic change in a strand of DNA.

Question 51

**_Translocation Mutation_**

Answer 51

**_Definition:_** Chromosome mutations in which chromosome segments, and the genes they contain, change positions. **_Example:_** Translocation Mutation is basically like a swap between segments.

Question 52

**_Silent Mutation_**

Answer 52

**_Definition:_** DNA mutations that do not significantly alter the phenotype of the organism in which they occur. **_Example:_** A Silent Mutation's name is self-explanatory, it is silent and it does not affect anything.

Question 53

**_Missense Mutation_**

Answer 53

**_Definition:_** Change of a single base pair causes the substitution of a different amino acid in the resulting protein. **_Example:_** Even if only one letter is changed, an entirely different amino acid may be used, like in a Missense Mutation.

Question 54

**_Nonsense Mutation_**

Answer 54

**_Definition:_** When a codon that corresponds to one of the twenty amino acids specified by the genetic code is changed to a chain-terminating codon. **_Example:_** A Nonsense Mutation ends in a Stop codon.

Question 55

**_Frameshift Mutation_**

Answer 55

**_Definition:_** A genetic mutation caused by insertions or deletions of a number of nucleotides in a DNA sequence that is not divisible by three. **_Example:_** Frameshift Mutations have a more dramatic effect on the polypeptide than missense or nonsense mutations.

Question 56

**_Splicing_**

Answer 56

**_Definition:_** Cutting out part of the DNA in a gene and adding new DNA in its place. **_Example:_** Splicing takes place in the nucleus.

Question 57

**_Spliceosome_**

Answer 57

**_Definition:_** A large and complex molecular machine found primarily within the splicing speckles of the cell nucleus of eukaryotic cells. **_Example:_** Splicing requires a Spliceosome.

Question 58

**_Intron_**

Answer 58

**_Definition:_** A segment of a DNA or RNA molecule that does not code for proteins and interrupts the sequence of genes. **_Example:_** Introns are removed by Splicing.

Question 59

**_Exon_**

Answer 59

**_Definition:_** A segment of a DNA or RNA molecule containing information coding for a protein or peptide sequence. **_Example:_** Exons are part of DNA that are converted into mature messenger RNA.

Question 60

**_HIV_**

Answer 60

**_Definition:_** A virus that causes an immunodeficiency syndrome condition in humans that causes progressive failure of the immune system and allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive. **_Example:_** Someone infected with the HIV virus can live without symptoms for many years.

Question 61

**_Retrovirus_**

Answer 61

**_Definition:_** Any of a group of RNA viruses that insert a DNA copy of their genome into the host cell in order to replicate. **_Example:_** An example of a Retrovirus is HIV.

Question 62

**_Reverse Transcription_**

Answer 62

**_Definition:_** The reverse of normal transcription, occurring in some RNA viruses, in which a sequence of nucleotides is copied from an RNA template during the synthesis of a molecule of DNA. **_Example:_** Reverse transcription occurs in HIV.

Question 63

**_Reverse Transcriptase_**

Answer 63

**_Definition:_** An enzyme that catalyzes the formation of DNA from an RNA template in reverse transcription. **_Example:_** Reverse transcriptase is also called RNA-directed DNA polymerase.

Question 64

**_Integrase_**

Answer 64

**_Definition:_** An enzyme produced by a retrovirus that enables its genetic material to be integrated into the DNA of the infected cell. **_Example:_** HIV cannot replicate without Integrase.

Question 65

**_Proteosome_**

Answer 65

**_Definition:_** A protein complex in cells containing proteases that breaks down proteins that have been tagged by ubiquitin. **_Example:_** Proteosomes are located in the nucleus and the cytoplasm.

Question 66

**_Gene Regulation_**

Answer 66

**_Definition:_** The process of turning genes on and off. **_Example:_** Gene regulation ensures that the appropriate genes are expressed at the proper times.

Question 67

**_Postive Regulation_**

Answer 67

**_Definition:_** A type of regulation where an activator interacts with the RNA polymerase in the promoter region to initiate transcription. **_Example:_** In positive regulation, a transcription factor is required to bind at the promoter in order to enable RNA polymerase to initiate transcription.

Question 68

**_Negative Regulation_**

Answer 68

**_Definition:_** A type of regulation where a repressor molecule binds to the operator of an operon and terminates transcription. **_Example:_** Negative regulation prevents a gene from being expressed.

Question 69

**_Promoter/Regulatory Region_**

Answer 69

**_Definition:_** The region of the DNA that regulates the transcription of the gene. **_Example:_** A gene consists of a transcriptional region and a regulatory region.

Question 70

**_Transcribed Region_**

Answer 70

**_Definition:_** Where RNA polymerase attaches and initiates transcription. **_Example:_** Transcription occurs in the transcribed region.

Question 71

**_Activator Protein_**

Answer 71

**_Definition:_** A protein that increases gene transcription of a gene or set of genes. **_Example:_** Most activators are DNA-binding proteins that bind to enhancers or promoter-proximal elements.

Question 72

**_Repressor Protein_**

Answer 72

**_Definition:_** A DNA- or RNA-binding protein that inhibits the expression of one or more genes by binding to the operator or associated silencers. **_Example:_** Repressor proteins prevents transcription of the genes into messenger RNA.

Question 73

**_Transcription Factor_**

Answer 73

**_Definition:_** Proteins involved in the process of converting, or transcribing, DNA into RNA. **_Example:_** Transcription factors include a wide number of proteins, excluding RNA polymerase, that initiate and regulate the transcription of genes.