Spring Final Vocabulary Review

Question 1

Nucleic Acid

Answer 1

DNA and RNA, carry genetic information, read in cells to make RNA and proteins, helps living things function. Polymers (long chains), repeating nucleotides.

Question 2

Phosphate group

Answer 2

Essential components of nucleotides, building blocks of DNA. Backbone of DNA strand, connecting sugar and nitrogenous base components. 5’-3’.

Question 3

Nitrogen base

Answer 3

An organic molecule containing nitrogen. (A)denine, (G)uanine, (C)ytosine, (T)hymine, and (U)racial. Information carrying part of nucleotide. 2 main types: Purines (adenine and guanine with a double-ring structure) and pyrimidines

Question 4

Nucleotide

Answer 4

Basic structural unit and building block of DNA and DNA. Consists of a phosphate group, five-carb

Question 5

Base pairs

Answer 5

Two nitrogenous bases, connected by hydrogen bonds. DNA: A-T and G-C. RNA: A-U. Crucial for structure and function of DNA and RNA. Ensures 2 strands of DNA are complementary, allowing replication and transcription.

Question 6

DNA

Answer 6

In nearly all organisms, main component of chromosomes. Carrier of genetic information. Blueprint of life, double-stranded helix that stores all the genetic instructions for organism’s development, functioning, growth, and reproduction. Stable structure and base pairing makes it best for storing and transmitting hereditary information from on generation to the next.

Question 7

Helix

Answer 7

Three-dimensional shape, coil like. DNA known for it’s double helix shape. Critical for it’s stability and ability to store vast amounts of information within the cell nucleus.

Question 8

Ribosome

Answer 8

Minute particle consisting of RNA and proteins. Found in cytoplasm of living cells. Bind messenger RNA and transfer RNA to synthesize polypeptides and proteins. They read genetic instruction carried by mRNA, with the help of tRNA, assemble amino acids into proteins. Found in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells in the cytoplasm or endoplasmic reticulum.

Question 9

Endoplasmic reticulum

Answer 9

Networks of membranous tubules and sacs within the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells. Exists in 2 forms. Rough and smooth. Rough is where proteins destined for secretion or insertion into membranes are synthesizes and folded. Smooth is involved in lipid synthesis and detoxification, and calcium storage.

Question 10

RNA

Answer 10

Nucleic acid present in all living cells. Main role is to act as a messenger carrying instructions from DNA for controlling the synthesis of proteins. Single-stranded. Contains ribose sugar and the base uracil instead of thymine. mRNA, tRNA, rRNA for protein synthesis.

Question 11

Transcription

Answer 11

Genetic information from DNA is copied into an RNA molecule. Happens in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells. Catalyzed by RNA polymerase. mRNA carried genetic message out of thee nucleus to the ribosomes.

Question 12

Translation

Answer 12

Protein is synthesized from the information contained in a molecule of messenger RNA (mRNA). Second step in gene expression. mRNA message decoed to build protein. Happens in ribosomes, tRNA molecules carry a specific amino acid, match their anticodons to the mRNA codons. Amino acids linked together to form a polypeptide chain, which fold into a functional protein.

Question 13

Genetic code

Answer 13

Set of rules while information encoded in genetic material. Translated into proteins by living cells. Read in units of three bases (codons). Can highlight common ancestry. Multiple codons can specify the same amino acid (degenerate).

Question 14

Codon

Answer 14

Sequence of 3 nucleotides, form a unit of genetic code in DNA or RNA molecule. Codon specifies a particular amino acid or stop signal. 64 possible codons, 61 specify amino acids. 3 as stop signals to terminate protein synthesis