Viruses and bacteria vocabulary
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| 66643025 | Activator | A protein that binds to DNA & stimulates transcription of a specific gene | |
| 66643026 | alternative RNA splicing | A type of regulation at the RNA-processing level in which different mRNA molecules are produced from the same primary transcript depending on which RNA segments are treated as exons and which as introns. | |
| 66643027 | cell differentation | the structural and functional divergence of cells as they become specialized | |
| 66643028 | chromatin | The complex of DNA and proteins that makes up a eukaryotic chromosome. When the cell is not dividing, chromatin exists as a mass of very long, thin fibers that are not visible with a light microscope. | |
| 66643029 | control element | A segment of noncoding DNA that helps regulate transcription of a gene by binding proteins called transcription factors. | |
| 66643030 | differential gene expression | The expression of different sets of genes by cells with the same genome. | |
| 66643031 | enhancer | A DNA segment containing multiple control elements that may be located far away from the gene it regulates. | |
| 66643032 | epigenetic inheritance | Inheritance of traits transmitted by mechanisms not directly involving the nucleotide sequence. | |
| 66643033 | euchromatin | The more open, unraveled form of eukaryotic chromatin that is available for transcription. | |
| 66643034 | genomic imprinting | Phenomenon in which expression of an allele in offspring depends on whether the allele is inherited from the male or female parent. | |
| 66643035 | heterochromatin | Nontranscribed eukaryotic chromatin that is so highly compacted that it is visible with a light microscope during interphase. | |
| 66643036 | histone | Proteins that support, protect, and help maintain the tightly coiled structure of the DNA in a chromosome | |
| 66643037 | histone acetylation | The attachment of acetyl groups to a certain amino acid of the histone proteins | |
| 66643038 | micro-RNA (miRNA) | small single stranded RNA molecules that bind to mRNA and can degrade mRNA or block its translation | |
| 66643039 | multigene family | A collection of genes with similar or identical sequences, presumably of common origin. | |
| 66643040 | nucleosome | The basic, beadlike unit of DNA packaging in eukaryotes, consisting of a segment of DNA wound around a protein core composed of two copies of each of four types of histone. | |
| 66643041 | oncogene | A gene found in viruses or as part of the normal genome that is involved in triggering cancerous characteristics. | |
| 66643042 | p53 gene | The "guardian angel of the genome," p53 is expressed when a cell's DNA is damaged. Its product, p53 protein, functions as a transcription factor for several genes. | |
| 66643043 | proteasome | A giant protein complex that recognizes and destroys proteins tagged for elimination by the small protein ubiquitin. | |
| 66643044 | proto-oncogene | a piece of DNA to function as info for cell cycle, normal gene but if mutated-cancer | |
| 66643045 | pseudogene | A DNA segment very similar to a real gene but which does not yield a functional product; a gene that has become inactivated in a particular species because of mutation. | |
| 66643046 | Ras gene | This gene codes for Ras protein, a G protein that relays a growth signal from a growth-factor receptor on the plasma membrane to a cascade of protein kinases that ultimately results in the stimulation of the cell cycle. Many ras oncogenes have a point mutation that leads to a hyperactive version of the Ras protein that can lead to excessive cell division. | |
| 66643047 | repetitive DNA | Nucleotide sequences, usually noncoding, that are present in many copies in a eukaryotic genome. The repeated units may be short and arranged tandemly (in series) or long and dispersed in the genome. | |
| 66643048 | repressor | a protein that blocks the transcription of a gene or operon | |
| 66643049 | retrotransposon | A transposable element that moves within a genome by means of an RNA intermediate, a transcript of the retrotransposon DNA. | |
| 66643050 | RNA interference | (RNAi)a technique to silence the expression of selected genes in non-mammalian organisims | |
| 66643051 | transcription factor | A regulatory protein that binds to DNA & stimulates transcription of specifc genes | |
| 66643052 | transposon | A transposable genetic element that moves within a genome by means of a DNA intermediate. | |
| 66643053 | tumor-suppressor gene | A gene whose protein products inhibit cell dision thereby preventing uncontrolled cell growth | |
| 66643054 | AIDS | the late stages of HIV infection | |
| 66643055 | Bacteriophage | virus that infects bacteria | |
| 66643056 | Capsid | protein shell that encloses a viral envelope | |
| 66643057 | Conjugation | direct transfer of DNA between 2 cells that are joined | |
| 66643058 | Corepressor | small molecule that switches an operon off | |
| 66643059 | cAMP | ring-shaped molecule made from ATP | |
| 66643060 | Episome | genetic element existing a a plasmid or part of bacterial chromosome | |
| 66643061 | F-factor | fertility factor in bacteria | |
| 66643062 | f-plasmid | plasmid form of the F factor | |
| 66643063 | HIV | infectious, AIDS-causing agent | |
| 66643064 | Host Range | limited range of host cells that each virus can infect | |
| 66643065 | Inducer | small molecule that activates repressors | |
| 66643066 | Insertion Sequence | simplest kind of transposable element | |
| 66643067 | Lysogenic Cycle | A phage replication cycle in which the viral genome becomes incorporated into the bacterial host chromosome as a prophage and does not kill the host. | |
| 66643068 | Lytic Cycle | a viral reproductive cycle in which copies of a virus are made within a host cell, which then bursts open, releasing new viruses | |
| 66643069 | nucleoid | A dense region of DNA in a prokaryotic cell. | |
| 66643070 | Operator | a short sequence of viral or bacterial DNA to which a repressor binds to prevent transcription (mRNA synthesis) of the adjacent gene in an operon | |
| 66643071 | Operon | A unit of genetic function common in bacteria and phages, consisting of coordinately regulated clusters of genes with related functions. | |
| 66643072 | Phage | A virus that infects bacteria; also called a bacteriophage. | |
| 66643073 | Plasmid | a small ring of DNA that carries accessory genes separate from those of a bacterial chromosome; also found in some eukaryotes, such as yeast | |
| 66643074 | Prion | an infectious particle that consists only of a protein and that does not contain DNA or RNA. Infects the brain. Rapidly increasing form of a protein. | |
| 66643075 | Prophage | A phage genome that has been inserted into a specific site on the bacterial chromosome. | |
| 66643076 | Provirus | Viral DNA that inserts into a host genome. | |
| 66643077 | R Plasmid | A bacterial plasmid carrying genes that confer resistance to certain antibiotics. | |
| 66643078 | Regulatory Gene | A gene that codes for a protein, such as a repressor, that controls the transcription of another gene or group of genes. | |
| 66643079 | Retrovirus | a virus that contains single-stranded RNA and produces a reverse transcriptase, which converts RNA to DNA(important class of cancer-causing viruses) | |
| 66643080 | Reverse Transcriptase | An enzyme encoded by some certain viruses (retroviruses) that uses RNA as a template for DNA synthesis. | |
| 66643081 | Temperate Phage | A phage that is capable of reproducing by either the lytic or lysogenic cycle. | |
| 66643082 | Transduction | A DNA-transfer process used by phages to carry bacterial genes from one host cell to another. | |
| 66643083 | transformation | conversion from an animal cell to a cancerous cell | |
| 66643084 | Transposable Genetic Element | A segment of DNA that can move within the genome of a cell by means of a DNA or RNA intermediate. | |
| 66643085 | Transposon | A transposable genetic element that moves within a genome by means of a DNA intermediate. | |
| 66643086 | Vaccine | dose of a disabled or destroyed pathogen (or part of a pathogen) used to stimulate a long-term immune defense against the pathogen | |
| 66643087 | Viral envelope | A membrane that cloaks the capsid that in turn encloses a viral genome. | |
| 66643088 | Viroid | an infectious agent that consists of a small strand of RNA and that causes disease in plants(circular) | |
| 66643089 | Virulent Phage | phage that reproduces byt the lytic cycle |
