genome
complete sequence of nucleotides of the genetic material
gene
nucleotide sequence that can code for a cetrain product or set of products depending on factors such as alternative splicing and protein modification
trait
genetically influenced characteristic
the central dogma
DNA is transcribed to RNA, which is translated to amino acids to form protein
chromosomes
Compact organization of double stranded DNA, allow the genome to be compressed and organized
histones
sections of DNA not in use are wrapped tightly around globular proteins called histones
nucleosomes
eight histones wrapped in DNA form a nucleosome
supercoils
nucleosomes wrap into coils called supercoils
chromatin
entire DNA/protein complex. about 1/3 is DNA, two thirds protein and small amount of RNA make up chromatin
heterochromatin
Heterochromatin is a tightly packed form of DNA, which comes in different varieties
single copy DNA
nucleotide sequences that code for pteoin products often contain single copy dna, which are nucleotide sequences represented by only one copy of a nucleotide sequence, and are associated with regions of eucromatin that are being actively transcribed
repetitive dna
non coding regions of dna, which has multiple consecutive copies of the same nucleotide sequence and remains tightly coiled in regions of heterochromatin
DNA methylation
involves the addition of an extra methyl group to particular cytosine nucleotides, causes DNA to be wound more tightly. methylated sections are inaccessible to cellular machinery and cannot be transcribed, so expression of genes in these sections is reduced.
non-coding RNA
sections of rna that do not code for pteoin products contribute to the regulation of the chemical changes that affect chromatin structure
homologues
each chromosome possesses a partner that codes for the same traits
diploid
any cell that contains homologous pairs
haploid
any cell that does not contain homologues
transcription
process by which RNA is manufactured from a DNA template
translation
takes the nucleotide sequence of the RNA transcript and translates it into the language of amino acids, which are then strung together to form a functional protein
initiation
the beginning of transcription. in initiation, a group of dna binding proteins called transcription factors identifies a promoter on the dna strand
promoter
sequence of DNA nucleotides that designates a beginning point for transcription
RNA polymerase
promter sequences that helps regulate where on the genome transcription can take place and how often certain sequences are transcribed.
elogation mode
elongation occurs when RNA polymerase transcribes only one strand of the DNA nucleotide sequence into a complementary RNA nucleotide sequence
termination
end of transcription, which occurs when a specific sequence of nucleotides known as the termination sequence is reached
