Module 4

Question 1

Genetics

Answer 1

The study of how traits are transmitted from one generation to the next and how traits are expressed in individuals.

Question 2

Prokaryotes

Answer 2

Single-celled organisms, such as bacteria, in which the genetic material is not separated from the rest of the cell by a nucleus.

Question 3

Eukaryotes

Answer 3

Multicellular Organisms

Question 4

Nucleus

Answer 4

In eukaryotic cells, the part of the cell in which the genetic material is separated from the rest of the cell (cytoplasm) by a plasma membrane. This nucleus is porous and allows some things to leave the nucleus.

Question 5

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid)

Answer 5

A double-stranded molecule that is the carrier of genetic information. Each strand is composed of a linear sequence of nucleotides; the two strands are held together by hydrogen bonds that form between complementary bases.

Question 6

Cytoplasm

Answer 6

In a eukaryotic cell, the region within the cell membrane that surrounds the nucleus; it contains organelles, which carry out the essential functions of the cell, such as energy production, metabolism, and protein synthesis. It’s made of water, minerals, vitamins, salts, chemicals, and organelles.

Question 7

Somatic Cells

Answer 7

The cells of the body that are not sex cells consisting of heart muscle cells, muscle cells, bone cells, skin cells, and nerve cells.

Question 8

Gametes

Answer 8

The cells of the body that are not sex cells.

Question 9

proteins

Answer 9

Complex molecules formed from chains of amino acids (polypeptide) or from a complex of polypeptides. They function as structural molecules, transport molecules, antibodies, enzymes, and hormones.

Question 10

Protein Synthesis

Answer 10

The assembly of proteins from amino acids that occurs at ribosomes in the cytoplasm and is based on information carried by mRNA
Step 1: DNA copied by mRNA
Step 2: mRNA strand travels to the ribosome
Step 3: tRNA decodes mRNA into assembled amino acids (A protein).

Question 11

Mitochondria

Answer 11

Organelles in the cytoplasm of the cell where energy production for the cell takes place. Contains its own DNA. Mitochondria use oxygen to burn food particles for energy. The amount of mitochondria in cells vary.

Question 12

RNA (Ribonucleic Acid)

Answer 12

Single-stranded nucleic acid that performs critical functions during protein synthesis and comes in three forms: messenger RNA, transfer RNA, and ribosomal RNA.

Question 13

Ribosomes

Answer 13

Structures composed primarily of RNA that are found on the endoplasmic reticulum. They are the site of protein synthesis.

Question 14

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

Answer 14

An organelle in the cytoplasm consisting of a folded membrane.

Question 15

Nucleotides

Answer 15

Molecular building block of nucleic acids DNA and RNA; consists of a phosphate, sugar, and base.

Question 16

Enzyme

Answer 16

A complex protein that is a catalyst for chemical processes in the body

Question 17

Hemoglobin

Answer 17

Protein found in red blood cells that transports oxygen

Question 18

Stem Cells

Answer 18

Undifferentiated cells found in the developing embryo that can be induced to differentiate into a wide variety of cell types or tissues. Also found in adults, although adult stem cells are not as totipotent as embryonic stem cells.

Question 19

Hormone

Answer 19

A natural substance (often a pro-tein) produced by specialized cells in one location of the body that influences the activity or physiology of cells in a different location.

Question 20

Amino Acids

Answer 20

Molecules that form the basic building blocks of protein.

Question 21

Codons

Answer 21

A triplet of nucleotide bases in mRNA that specifies an amino acid or the initiation or termination of a polypeptide sequence.

Question 22

Gene

Answer 22

The fundamental unit of heredity. Consists of a sequence of DNA bases that carries the information for synthesizing a protein (or poly-peptide) and occupies a specific chromosomal locus

Question 23

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

Answer 23

Strand of RNA synthesized in the nucleus as a complement to a specific gene (transcription). It carries the information for the sequence of amino acids to make a specific protein into the cytoplasm, where at a ribosome it is read and a protein molecule synthesized (translation).

Question 24

Transfer RNA (tRNA)

Answer 24

RNA molecules that bind to specific amino acids and transport them to ribosomes to be used during protein synthesis.

Question 25

Mitosis

Answer 25

Somatic cell division in which a single cell divides to produce two identical daughter cells.

Question 26

Meiosis

Answer 26

Cell division that occurs in the testes and ovaries that leads to the formation of sperm and ova (gametes).

Question 27

Chromosome

Answer 27

Discrete structure composed of condensed DNA and supporting proteins.

Question 28

Centromere

Answer 28

Condensed and constricted region of a chromosome. During mitosis and meiosis, location where sister chromatids attach to one another.

Question 29

Homologous Chromosomes

Answer 29

Members of the same pair of chromosomes (or autosomes). Homologous chromosomes undergo crossing over during meiosis.

Question 30

Alleles

Answer 30

Alternative versions of a gene. Alleles are distinguished from one another by their different effects on the phenotypic expression of the same gene.

Question 31

Zygote

Answer 31

A fertilized egg.

Question 32

Recombination

Answer 32

The rearrangement of genes on homologous chromosomes that occurs during crossing over in meiosis. Source of variation arising out of sexual reproduction; important for increasing rates of natural selection.

Question 33

Autosomes

Answer 33

Any of the chromosomes other than the sex chromosomes.

Question 34

Sex Chromosomes

Answer 34

In mammals, chromosomes X and Y, with XX producing females and XY producing males.

Question 35

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)

Answer 35

Small loop of DNA found in the mitochondria. It is clonally and maternally inherited.

Question 36

IN DNA what inner components go with which?

Answer 36

A and T C and G

Question 37

How many Amino Acids do we innately produce in our bodies? And how many do we need to survive?

Answer 37

12. We must ingest food to get the 8 more we need to survive. In other words, there are a total of 20 amino acids that are essential.

Question 38

Mutation

Answer 38

A result that comes from when mRNA mistranslates a DNA copy blueprint wrong, causing a different copy of a DNA strand to occasionally form.(not always, often mistranslated blueprints result in nothing.) Very often, mutations are detrimental. However, very occasionally, they are beneficial.

Question 39

Cell membrane

Answer 39

A boundary a part of a cell that acts as a barrier to the outside world. This membrane is porous enough to let certain things in, however, like food particles, oxygen. Things like Carbon dioxide can also exit the cell as waste.

Question 40

Lysosome

Answer 40

Food is processed here before the mitochondria burns them. This organelle contains enzymes that digest small food particles that pass into the cell. They also break down dead cell parts and gather waste products from the cell.

Question 41

Golgi Body

Answer 41

The cell’s packaging centers. Here proteins get mixed with chemicals and become enclosed in bubble-like containers that break away and move to the cell membrane where their contents are released from the cell.