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AP Biology: Big Idea 3 Flashcards

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7913431517Hershey-Chase ExperimentExperiment that showed that only the DNA enters a bacterial cell during infection, not protein by using radioactive S and P.0
7913431518Frederick GriffithThis person discovered transformation during an experiment that involved injecting mice with smooth S cells, rough R cells, heat-killed S cells, and heat-killed S cells with living R cells.1
7913431519Erwin ChargaffDiscovered that DNA composition varies, but the amount of adenine is always the same as thymine and the amount of cytosine is always the same as guanine.2
7913431520Avery, MacLeod, McCartyDetermined that DNA was Griffith's "Transforming Factor."3
7913431521Rosalind FranklinUsed X-ray diffraction to discover the double-helical structure of DNA.4
7913431522Watson and CrickDeveloped the double helix model of DNA.5
7913431523nucleic acidAn organic compound, either RNA or DNA, whose molecules are made up of one or two chains of nucleotides and carry genetic information.6
7913431524nucleotideMonomer of nucleic acids made up of a sugar, phosphate, base7
7913431525purinesNitrogenous bases that have a double ring structure (AG)8
7913431526pyrimidinesNitrogenous bases that have a single ring structure (CT)9
7913431527antiparallelThe opposite arrangement of the sugar-phosphate backbones in a DNA double helix.10
7913431528phosphodiester bondStrong covalent bond linking the sugar in one nucleotide to the phosphate of another. (BACKBONE SEALER!)11
7913431529DNA replicationThe process whereby DNA makes a copy of itself prior to cell division.12
7913431530semiconservative modelType of DNA replication in which the replicated double helix consists of one old strand, derived from the old molecule, and one newly made strand.13
7913431531DNA polymeraseDNA replication enzyme that adds nucleotides in the 5 to 3 (as it reads in the 3 to 5)14
7913431532transcriptionSynthesis of an RNA molecule from a DNA template.15
7913431533lagging strandA discontinuously synthesized DNA strand that elongates by means of Okazaki fragments, each synthesized in a 5' to 3' direction away from the replication fork.16
7913431534leading strandThe new continuous complementary DNA strand synthesized along the template strand in the mandatory 5' to 3' direction.17
7913431535primaseAn enzyme that joins RNA nucleotides to make the primer using the parental DNA strand as a template.18
7913431536messenger RNA (mRNA)Carries genetic message from the DNA to he protein-synthesizing machinery of the cell.19
7913431537Okazaki fragmentsSmall fragments of DNA produced on the lagging strand during DNA replication, joined later by DNA ligase to form a complete strand.20
7913431538DNA helicaseAn enzyme that untwists the double helix at the replication forks, separating the two parental strands and making them available as template strands.21
7913431539translationThe synthesis of a polypeptide, which occurs under the direction of mRNA.22
7913431540RNA editingThe modification of mRNA before it leaves the nucleus that is unique to eukaryotes.23
7913431541codonsmRNA base triplets.24
7913431542RNA polymeraseEnzyme that links together the growing chain of ribonucleotides during transcription.25
7913431543promoterA specific nucleotide sequence in DNA that binds RNA polymerase and indicates where to start transcribing mRNA.26
7913431544TATA boxCrucial promoter DNA sequence.27
7913431545RNA splicingProcess by which the introns are removed from RNA transcripts and the remaining exons are joined together.28
7913431546intronsNoncoding segments of nucleic acid that lie between coding sequences.29
7913431547exonsCoding segments of eukaryotic DNA.30
7913431548transfer RNA (tRNA)Interpreter of a series of codons along a mRNA molecule.31
7913431549ribosomal RNA (rRNA)RNA molecules that construct ribosomal subunits.32
7913431550ribosomal P siteSite that holds tRNA carrying the growing polypeptide chain. (PEPTIDE)33
7913431551ribosomal A siteSite that holds the tRNA carrying the next amino acid to be added to the chain. (ADD)34
7913431552ribosomal E siteSite where discharged tRNAs leave the ribosome. (EXIT)35
7913431553transformationA change in genotype and phenotype due to the assimilation of external DNA by a cell.36
7913431554gene expressionConversion of the information encoded in a gene first into messenger RNA and then to a protein.37
7913431555recombinant DNAA DNA molecule made in vitro with segments from different sources.38
7913431556restriction enzymeA degradative enzyme that recognizes and cuts up DNA (including that of certain phages) that is foreign to a bacterium.39
7913431557DNA ligaseA linking enzyme essential for DNA replication; catalyzes the covalent bonding of the 3' end of a new DNA fragment to the 5' end of a growing chain.40
7913431558denaturationIn proteins, a process in which a protein unravels and loses its native conformation, thereby becoming biologically inactive. In DNA, the separation of the two strands of the double helix.41
7913431559polymerase chain reaction (PCR)A technique for amplifying DNA in vitro by incubating with special primers, DNA polymerase molecules, and nucleotides.42
7913431560gel electrophoresisThe separation of nucleic acids or proteins, on the basis of their size and electrical charge, by measuring their rate of movement through an electrical field in a gel.43
7913431561plasmidSmall extra-chromosomal, double-stranded circular DNA molecules.44
7913431562RNA primerShort segment of RNA used to initiate synthesis of a new strand of DNA during replication.45
7913431563reverse transcriptaseA polymerase that catalyzes the formation of DNA using RNA as a template.46
7913431564somatic cellAny of the cells of a plant or animal except the reproductive cells.47
7913431565centromereThe region of the chromosome that holds the two sister chromatids together during mitosis.48
7913431566mitosisCell division in which the nucleus divides into nuclei containing the same number of chromosomes.49
7913431567interphasePeriod of the cell cycle between cell divisions.50
7913431568S phaseThe synthesis phase of the cell cycle; the portion of interphase during which DNA is replicated.51
7913431569cancerDisease that results from disruptions of cell cycle control.52
7913431570kinetochore microtubulesConnects the centrosome with the kinetochore in the centromere region of the chromosome.53
7913431571growth factorsRegulatory proteins that ensure that the events of cell division occur in the proper sequence and at the correct rate.54
7913431572alleleOne of the alternative forms of a gene that governs a characteristic, such as hair color.55
7913431573crossing overNonsister chromatids exchanging DNA segments.56
7913431574diploid cellHas two sets of chromosomes.57
7913431575fertilizationUnion of gametes.58
7913431576gametesA haploid cell such as an egg or sperm that unite during sexual reproduction to produce a diploid zygote.59
7913431577genesUnits of heredity made up of DNA.60
7913431578haploidOne set of chromosomes.61
7913431579homologous chromosomesPair of chromosomes that are the same size, same appearance and same genes.62
7913431580zygoteFertilized egg; carries one set of chromosomes from each parent.63
7913431581law of independent assortmentThe random distribution of the pairs of genes on different chromosomes to the gametes.64
7913431582law of segregationAllele pairs separate or segregate during gamete formation, and randomly unite at fertilization. Due to separation of homologous chromosomes in Meiosis I.65
7913431583true-breedingOrganisms that, when reproducing, create offspring of all the same variety.66
7913431584hybridizationThe crossing of two different true-breeding parents.67
7913431585dominant alleleAn allele whose trait always shows up in the organism when the allele is present.68
7913431586recessive alleleAn allele that is masked when a dominant allele is present69
7913431587homozygousAn organism having a pair of identical alleles for a character, either dominant or recessive.70
7913431588phenotypeAn organism's traits.71
7913431589genotypeAn organism's genetic makeup.72
7913431590codominanceWhen which the phenotypes of both alleles are exhibited in the heterozygote.73
7913431591incomplete dominanceCreates a blended phenotype; one allele is not completely dominant over the other.74
7913431592nondisjunctionA failure of paired homologous chromosomes to separate during meiosis which results in an abnormal chromosome number.75
7913431593linked genesGenes located on the same chromosome that tend to be inherited together in genetic crosses.76
7913431594sex linked genesGenes located on the sex chromosomes.77
7913431595operonA unit of genetic function common in bacteria and phages, consisting of coordinately regulated clusters of genes with related functions.78
7913431596operatorRegion of DNA that controls RNA polymerase's access to a set of genes with related functions.79
7913431597repressorA protein that suppresses the transcription of a gene.80
7913431598Trp operonAn example of a repressible operon.81
7913431599Lac operonAn example of an inducible operon.82
7913431600transcription factorsProteins that bind to specific DNA sequences or other regulatory proteins that promote or block RNA polymerase.83
7913431601hormonesCirculating chemical signals that are formed in specialized cells, travel in body fluids, and act on specific target cells.84
7913431602ligandA molecule that specifically binds to another molecule, often a larger one.85
7913431603protein kinaseThe enzyme that transfers phosphate groups from ATP to protein.86
7913431604receptionThe target cell's detection of a signal molecule coming from outside the cell.87
7913431605transductionThe binding of the signal molecule changes the receptor protein in some way.88
7913431606responseThe transduced signal finally triggers a specific cellular response.89
7913431607endocrine signalingType of cell signalling where signals released by one cell type can travel long distances to target cells of another cell type.90
7913431608cell body (soma)Contains most of a neuron's organelles and its nucleus.91
7913431609dendriteshighly branched extensions that receive signals from other neurons92
7913431610axonLong nerve fiber that conducts away from the cell body of the neuron.93
7913431611synapseThe junction between two neurons or between a neuron and a muscle.94
7913431612neurotransmittersChemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons.95
7913431613membrane potentialThe voltage across a cell's plasma membrane.96
7913431614resting potentialThe membrane potential of a neuron that is at rest.97
7913431615depolarizationThe process during the action potential when sodium is rushing into the cell causing the interior to become more positive.98
7913431616voltage-gated ion channelsChannels that open or close in response to a change in the membrane potential.99
7913431617action potentialA neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon.100
7913431618repolarizationReturn of the cell to resting state, caused by reentry of potassium into the cell while sodium exits the cell.101
7913431619thresholdThe minimum membrane potential that must be reached in order for an action potential to be generated.102
7913431620myelin sheathA layer of electrical insulation that surrounds the axon.103
7913431621sodium-potassium pumpa carrier protein that uses ATP to actively transport sodium ions out of a cell and potassium ions into the cell.104
7913431622point mutationA mutation that affects a single nucleotide, usually by substituting one nucleotide for another.105
7913431623frameshift mutationMutation that shifts the "reading frame" of the genetic message by the insertion or deletion of a nucleotide.106
7913431624bacteriophageA virus that infects and replicates within bacteria.107
7913431625lytic cycleViral life cycle in which the viral DNA exists as a separate molecule within the bacterial cell. Results in the destruction of the infected cell.108
7913431626lysogenic cycleViral life cycle characterized by integration of the viral nucleic acid into the host bacterium's genome. The viral genetic material can be transmitted to daughter cells.109

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