Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Biology for the MCAT :) > Genetics > Flashcards

Genetics Flashcards

(71 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

Mutation

A

Change of the structure of a gene

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Random Mutation

A

Just happens

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Translational Error

A

RNA —> Amino acid (protein) sequence

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Transcriptional Error

A

DNA —> mRNA

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Point Mutation (Base Substitution)

A

Change a Nucleotide (A, T, C, G)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Silent Mutation

A

Cannot tell there is a mutation

Ex: Mutation on the intron is silent b/c this does not create a protein

Ex: Mutation in the wobble position (3rd base in codon) that still codes for the same amino acid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Exon

A

Exits the nucleus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Intron

A

Cut out and gets digested; remains in the nucleus (junk)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Missense Mutation

A
  • Codon is change to code for a different amino acid

- “miss one part” = wrong nucleotide put in

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Nonsense Mutation

A

Premature stop codon

  • UGA
  • UAG
  • UAA
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Start Codon

A

Methionine (AUG)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Inversion Mutation

A

Flip nucleotide sequence (reversed)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Addition Mutation

A
  • Add in nucleotides

- The # inserted impacts what you see and the overall type of mutation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Deletion Mutation

A
  • Delete nucleotides

- The # inserted impacts what you see and the overall type of mutation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Translocation Mutation

A
  • Nucleotides (gene) is cut out and moved to a different location
  • This is what Viruses do to incorporate their DNA into host DNA
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Central Dogma of Biology

A

DNA ———————> RNA ——————> Protein
Transcription Translation

DNA = Nucleotides (T, A, C, G)
RNA = Nucleotides (U, A, C, G)
Protein = Amino Acids
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Mispairing Mutation

A

Wrong base pair; meaning wrong base was copied and they do not match

Ex: A-C, T-G, G-A, etc…

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Advantageous Mutation

A

Mutation that benefits the species; increasing likelihood of survival (passed to the next generation)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Deleterious Mutation

A

Harmful mutation to the organism; can be fatal or lethal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Inborn Errors of Metabolism

A

Genet disorder that prevents or changes a person’s ability to metabolize (breakdown food and function)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Carcinogen

A

Cancer causing mutation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Mutagen

A

Anything that causes a mutation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Evolution

A

Organism / species slowly evolve and change genetically over time; often due to external factors that select for one trait over another

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Natural Selection

A

Nature selects the most “ideal” genetic organism to survive

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Fitness
- Ability to reproduce and those offspring are able to survive, mature and reproduce as well - Ability to pass on genes to the next generation
26
Group Fitness
Entire group works together to survive
27
Speciation
Organisms of the same species evolve into separate species (can no longer reproduce to create viable offspring who can also reproduce)
28
Polymorphism
Different variations / versions of traits
29
Adaptation
Mutation to survive in a new environment
30
Specialization
Specific adaptation to one part of an environment (niche) to suit a particular way of life or skill
31
Inbreeding
Mating with relatives or family
32
Outbreeding
Mating outside of the family (more diverse selection of genes)
33
Bottleneck
A large population that was mostly wiped out
34
Genetic Regression
Species that start over (ex: bottleneck) to become more diverse
35
Evolutionary Time (Molecular Clock)
Measured by gradual, random changes in the genome
36
Genotype
Genes (not always shown) that you carry
37
Phenotype
What you see; the physical traits that are a result of your genotype
38
Gene
Codes for a gene produce, generally a protein that determines a characteristic or trait
39
Chromosome
A threadlike structure of nucleic acids and protein found in the nucleus of most living cells, carrying genetic information in the form of genes - 24 types found in humans (22 pairs are autosomal and 2 sex chromosomes (x and y)) - 46 in somatic cells - 23 in germ cells
40
Homologous (homologs)
Same type of chromosomes but from different parents that can code for different alleles
41
Alleles
Different versions of the same gene
42
Locus
Specific location on a gene
43
Homozygous
Same alleles / genes from both parents
44
Heterozygous
Two different alleles / genes for the same trait
45
Wild Type
Common dominant gene; typical trait found in nature
46
Dominant
Gene that is expressed (allele is seen)
47
Recessive
Gene that is hidden or masked (allele not seen)
48
Codominance
Both alleles are equally dominant Ex: Blood type
49
Leakage
Interbreeding between species results in a viable offspring; Genes therefore "leak out" into a new species
50
Penetrance
Percent of a gene that is expressed in the population or how much "penetrates" the population
51
Expressivity
Degree to which an allele is expressed
52
Hybridization
Mixing species (interbreeding) to increase fitness with new traits
53
Gene Pool
All alleles in a population (master list for a species)
54
Independent Assortment | - (Mendel)
Alleles do not depend on each other to separate; alleles are independent from one another
55
Monohybrid Cross
Phenotype = 3 dominant : 1 Recessive
56
Dihybrid Cross
Phenotype: - 9 Homozygous Dominant - 3 Heterozygous Dominant in trait A - 3 Heterozygous Dominant in trait B - 1 Homozygous Recessive
57
Trihybrid Cross
Phenotype ratio = 27: 9: 9: 9: 3: 3: 3: 1
58
Linkage
Connected genes (on the same chromosome) - unless crossing over occurs which would separate them, they are passed on together *The closer the genes the higher the probability that they will be passed on together (less likely to separate)
59
Synaptonemal Complex
A protein that holds onto the tetrad and assists in the crossing over (protects it)
60
Tetrad
Set of 4 chromosomes (2 homologous pairs) come together
61
Nondisjunction
Chromosome do not separate correctly Ex: Trisomy 21 leads to down syndrome
62
Sex Linked Trait
Trait on the X or Y chromosome; linked to gender ``` XX = female XY = male ```
63
Spermatozoa
Creates 4 gamete cells that can be passed on; only contain genetic information
64
Ova
Ova + 3 polar bodies - Ova passes on nucleus and the entire cell (cytoplasm, mitochondria, organelles, etc...)
65
Genetic Drift
Changes in the gene pool, slowly over time due to random chance (external factors, environment, mutations, etc...)
66
Hardy - Weinberg Theory
Allele and genotype frequency remain constant in a population generation to generation in the absence of outside factors
67
Hardy - Weinberg Theory Conditions
- Cells must be diploid (2n) - 2 parents - Population reproduces sexually - Random Mating - Infinitely large population (no inbreeding) - No migration - No mutation / Natural Selection **Equilibrium is to be maintained
68
Hardy - Weinberg Equations
Dominant Alleles = p Recessive Alleles =q p + q = 1 ___________________________________ Homozygous Dominant Alleles = p Homozygous Recessive Alleles =q Heterozygotes = pq p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1
69
Test Cross
Cross a parent with a homozygous recessive to determine the genotype - if parent is homozygous dominant then the phenotype is 100% dominant and genotype is 100% heterozygotes - if parent is heterozygote then the phenotype will be 50% dominant and 50% recessive and the genotype with be 50% heterozygote and 50% homozygous recessive
70
Gene Mapping
Methods used to identify the locus (specific location) of a gene and the distances between the genes - Looks at % of genes that separate vs % of genes that do not separate
71
Linked Genes
Genes connected on the same chromosome

Biology for the MCAT :) (10 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions