| Term | Definition |
|---|
| allele | the alternative version of a gene that codes for the same feature (trait) |
| base | one of the nitrogen-containing side-chain molecules (A, T, C, G, U) attached to a sugar molecule in the sugar-phosphate backbone of DNA and RNA |
| base pair | two nucleotides on complementary strands of DNA that form a pair, linked by hydrogen bonds; the pattern of pairing is adenine (A) with thymine (T) and cytosine (C) with guanine (G) |
| biotechnology | the field of study in which organisms, cells, and their molecules are modified to achieve practical benefits |
| chromosomal aberration | a type of mutation characterized by a change in the overall organization of the genes on a chromosome |
| chromosome | a linear or circular strand of DNA that contains specific sequences of nucleotide base pairs |
| clone | a genetically identical DNA fragment, cell, or organism produced by a single cell or organism |
| cloning | the production of genetically identical cells, organisms, or DNA molecules |
| code | the base sequence in a gene |
| codon | three-base sequences in mRNA that link with complementary tRNA molecules, which are attached to amino acids |
| deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) | a nucleic acid that carries information about the production of particular proteins in the sequences of its nucleotide bases |
| gene | a sequence of bases in a DNA molecule that carries the information necessary for producing a functional product, usually a protein molecule or RNA |
| gene therapy | medical procedures designed to treat or cure a variety of diseases by inserting a functional gene into an individual's cells to replace a defective version of the gene |
| genetic engineering | the manipulation of organisms' genetic material by adding, deleting, or transplanting genes from one organism to another, to alter the organisms in useful ways |
| genome | the full set of DNA present in an individual organism |
| genotype | the genes that an organism carries for a particular trait |
| Human Genome Project | the decoding of three billion base pairs in the human genome and the identification of all genes present in it |
| intron | non-coding regions of DNA within genes |
| messenger RNA (mRNA) | the ribonucleic acid that "reads" the sequence for a gene in DNA and then moves from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, where the next stage of protein synthesis will take place |
| mutation | any alteration of the sequence of bases in DNA that can lead to changes in the structure and function of the proteins produced |
| nucleic acid | a macromolecule made up of nucleotides that stores information |
| nucleotide | building block of nucleic acids that consists of a sugar, a phosphate, and a nitrogen-containing base |
| phenotype | the manifested structure, function, and behaviors of an individual; the expression of the genotype of an organism |
| phylogenetic tree | a grouping of organisms in a hierarchical system that reflects the evolutionary history and relatedness of the organisms |
| point mutation | one nucleotide base pair in the DNA is replaced with another, or a base pair is inserted or deleted |
| protein synthesis | the construction of a protein from its amino acids, by the processes of transcription and translation |
| ribosomal subunits | the protein-production factories where amino acids are linked together in the proper order to produce a protein |
| stem cells | undifferentiated cells that have the ability to develop into any type of cell in the body |
| trait | any single characteristic or feature of an organism |
| transcription | the process by which a gene's base sequence is copied from DNA to messenger RNA (mRNA) |
| transfer RNA (tRNA) | molecules in the cytoplasm that can read the mRNA code and translate it from a sequence of bases into a protein |
| transgenic organism | any living thing that contains DNA from another species |
| translation | the process by which mRNA, which encodes a gene's base sequence, directs the production of a protein |
Combine with other sets
Share on Facebook
Share on MySpace