Vocabulary #3

adenine             
A purine; a nitrogen-containing base in certain nucleotides. Base pairs with thymine in DNA.



bacteriophage 
Category of viruses that infect bacterial cells.


cloning
Making a genetically identical copy of DNA or of an organism.


cytosine            
Pyrimidine; one of the nitrogen-containing bases in nucleotides.


deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)  
Of cells and many viruses, the molecule of inheritance. H bonds join its two helically twisted nucleotide strands, one of which has instructions (in its base sequence) for synthesizing all of the enzymes and other proteins required to build and maintain cells.

DNA ligase       
Enzyme that seals new base-pairings during DNA replication.

DNA polymerase           
 Enzyme of replication and repair that assembles a new strand of DNA on a parent DNA template.

DNA repair        
Enzyme-mediated process that fixes small-scale alterations in a DNA strand by restoring the original base sequence.

DNA replication   
Any process by which a cell duplicates its DNA molecules before dividing.

guanine              
Nitrogen-containing base in one of four nucleotide monomers of DNA or RNA.

nucleotide        
Small organic compound with deoxyribose (a five-carbon sugar), a nitrogenous base, and a phosphate group. Monomer for adenosine phosphates, nucleotide coenzymes, and nucleic acids.

thymine             
A nitrogen-containing base; one of the nucleotides in DNA (not in RNA).

x-ray diffraction image
Pattern that forms on film exposed to x-rays that have been directed at a molecule; reveals positions of atoms, not the molecular structure.

anticodon          
Series of three nucleotide bases in tRNA; can base-pair with an mRNA codon.

base sequence               
Sequential order of bases in a DNA or RNA strand.

base-pair substitution 
One amino acid has replaced another during protein synthesis.

carcinogen        
Any substance or agent that can trigger cancer.

codon  
One of 64 possible base triplets in an mRNA strand. A code word for an amino acid in a polypeptide chain; a few codons also act as START or STOP signals for translation.

deletion             
At cytological level, loss of a segment from a chromosome. At molecular level, loss of one to a few base pairs from a DNA molecule.

exon    
One of the base sequences of an mRNA transcript that will become translated.

gene mutation
A small-scale change in the nucleotide sequence of a DNA molecule.

genetic code    
The correspondence between nucleotide triplets in DNA (then mRNA) and specific sequences of amino acids in a polypeptide chain; the basic language of protein synthesis in cells.

insertion            
Insertion of one to a few bases into a DNA strand. Also, a movable attachment of muscle to bone.

intron  
A noncoding portion of a pre-mRNA transcript; excised before translation.

ionizing radiation           
High-energy wavelengths.

mRNA (messenger RNA)           
A single strand of ribonucleotides transcribed from DNA, then translated into a polypeptide chain. The only RNA encoding protein-building instructions.

mutation rate  
Of a gene locus, the probability that a spontaneous mutation will occur during or between DNA replication cycles.

Vocabulary #2

Abortion

Premature, spontaneous or induced expulsion of the embryo or fetus from uterus.

Aneuploidy

Having one extra or one less chromosome relative to the parental chromosome number.

Autosome

Any chromosome of a type that is the same in males and females of the species.

crossing over

At prophase I of meiosis, an interaction in which non-sister chromatids of a pair of homologous chromosomes break at corresponding sites and exchange segments; genetic recombination is the result.

Deletion

At cytological level, loss of a segment from a chromosome. At molecular level, loss of one to a few base pairs from a DNA molecule.

Disease

Outcome of infection when defenses aren't mobilized fast enough and a pathogen's activities interfere with normal body functions.

double-blind study

Different investigators independently collect, then compare data.

Duplication

Gene sequence repeated several to many hundreds or thousands of times. Even normal chromosomes have such sequences.

genetic abnormality

A rare or less common version of a heritable trait

genetic disorder

Any inherited condition that causes mild to severe medical problems.

genetic recombination

Result of any process that puts new genetic information into a DNA molecule (e.g., by crossing over).

homologous chromosome

Of cells with a diploid chromosome number, one of a pair of chromosomes identical in size, shape, and gene sequence, and that interact at meiosis. Nonidentical sex chromosomes (e.g., X and Y) also interact as homologues during meiosis.

in-vitro fertilization

Conception outside the body (''in glass'' petri dishes or test tubes).

independent assortment

Mendelian theory that by the end of meiosis, each pair of homologous chromosomes (and linked genes on each one) are sorted before shipment to gametes independently of how the other pairs were sorted. Later modified to account for the disruptive effect of crossing over on linkages.

Inversion

Part of a chromosome that became oriented in reverse, with no molecular loss.

Karyotype

Preparation of metaphase chromosomes sorted by length, centromere location, other defining features.

linkage group

All genes on a chromosome.

 

Mosaicism

Cells of same type express genes differently, so phenotypic differences emerge in same type of tissue. E.g., occurs by X chromosome inactivation in female mammals; also by nondisjunction in any cell after fertilization (only descendants of altered cell inherit the abnormal chromosome number).

 

Non-disjunction

Failure of sister chromatids or a pair of homologous chromosomes to separate during meiosis or mitosis. Daughter cells end up with too many or too few chromosomes.

 

Polyploidy

Having three or more of each type of chromosome in the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell at interphase.

 

reciprocal cross

A paired cross. In the first cross, one parent displays the trait of interest. In the second, the other parent displays it.

 

sex chromosome

A chromosome with genes that affect sexual traits. Depending on the species, somatic cells have one or two sex chromosomes of the same or different type (e.g., in mammals, XX females, XY males).

 

Syndrome

A set of symptoms that may not individually be a telling clue but collectively characterize a genetic disorder or disease.

 

Translocation

Of cells, movement of a stretch of DNA to a new chromosomal location with no molecular loss. Of vascular plants, distribution of organic compounds by way of phloem.

 

X chromosome

A type of sex chromosome. An XX mammalian embryo becomes female; an XY pairing causes it to develop into a male.

 

Y chromosome

A type of sex chromosome. An XX mammalian embryo becomes female; an XY pairing causes it to develop into a male.