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Bioanthropology Chapter 3
vocab
78
Anthropology
Undergraduate 1
09/03/2011

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Term
adenine
Definition
one of four nitrogen bases that make up DNA and RNA ; it pairs with thymine in DNA molecules and uracil in RNA molecules
Term
adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
Definition
an important cellular molecule, created by the mitochondria and carrying the energy necessary for cellular functions
Term
amino acids
Definition
organic molecules combined in a specific sequence to form a protein
Term
antibodies
Definition
molecules that form as part of the primary immune response to the presence of foreign substances; they attach to the foreign antigens
Term
anticodons
Definition
sequences of three nitrogen bases carried by tRNA, they match up with the complementary mRNA codons and each designate a specific amino acid during protein synthesis
Term
antigens
Definition
substances, such as bacteria, foreign blood cells, and enzymes, that stimulate the immune system's antibody production
Term
autosomes
Definition
all chromosomes, except the sex chromosomes, that occur in pairs in all soatic cells (not the gametes)
Term
coding DNA
Definition
sequences of a gene's DNA (also known as exons) that are coded to prduce a specific protein and are transcribed and translated during protein synthesis
Term
codominance
Definition
refers to two different alleles that are equally dominant; both are fully expressed in a heterozygote's phenotype
Term
codons
Definition
the sequences of three nitrogen bases carried by mRNA that are coded to produce specific amino acids in protein synthesis
Term
complementary bases
Definition
the predictable pairing of nitrogen bases in the structure of DNA and RNA, such that adenine and thymine always pair together (adenine and uracil in RNA) and cytosine and guanine pair together
Term
cross-over
Definition
the process by which homologous chromosomes partially wrap around each other and exchange genetic information during meiosis
Term
cytoplasm
Definition
the jellylike substance inside the cell membrane that surrounds the nucleus and in which the organelles are suspended
Term
cytosine
Definition
one of four nitrogen bases that make up DNA and RNA; it pairs with guanine
Term
diploid
Definition
a cell that has a full complement of paired chromosomes
Term
essential amino acids
Definition
those amino acids that cannot be synthesized in the body; they must be supplied by the diet
Term
eukaryotes
Definition
multicelled organisms that have a membrane-bound nucleus containing both the gnetic material and specialized organelles
Term
free-floating nucleotides
Definition
nucleotides (the basic building block of DNA and RNA) that are present in the nucleus and are used during DNA replication and mRNA synthesis
Term
gametes
Definition
sexual reproductive cells, ova and sperm, that have a haploid number of chromosomes and that can unite with a gamete of the opposite sex to form a new organism
Term
genome
Definition
the complete set of chromosomes for an organism or species that represents all the heritable traits
Term
genomics
Definition
the branch of genetics that studies species' genomes
Term
guanine
Definition
one of four nitrogen bases that make up DNA and RNA; it pairs with cytosine
Term
haplogroups
Definition
a large set of haplotypes, such as the Y-chromosome or mitochondrial DNA, that may be used to define a population
Term
haploid
Definition
a cel that has a single set of unpaired chromosomes, half of the genetic material
Term
haplotypes
Definition
a group of alleles that tend to be inherited as a unit due to their closely spaced loci on a single chromosome
Term
heritabilityq
Definition
the proportion of phenotypic variation that is due to inheritance rather to environmental influence
Term
heteroplasmic
Definition
refers to a mixture of more than one type of organellar DNA, such as mitochondrial DNA, within a cell or a single organism's body, usually due to the mutation of the DNA in some organelles but not in others
Term
heterozygous
Definition
refers to the condition in which a pair of alleles at a single locus on homologous chromosomes are different
Term
homeotic (Hox) genes
Definition
also known as homeobox genes, they are responsible for differetiating the specific segments of the body, such as the head, tail, and limbs, during embryological development
Term
homologous
Definition
refers to each set of paired chromosomes in the genome
Term
homoplasmic
Definition
refers to nuclear DNA, which is identical in the nucleus of each cell type (except red blood cells)
Term
homozygous
Definition
refers to the condition in which a pair of alleles at a single locus on homologous chromosomes are the same
Term
karyotype
Definition
the characteristics of the chromosomes for an indvidual organism or a species, such as number, size, and type
Term
Law of Independent Assortment
Definition
Mendel's Second Law, which asserts that the inheritance of one trait does not affect the inheritance of other traits
Term
Law of Segregation
Definition
Mendel's First Law, which asserts taht the two alleles for any given name (or trait are inherited, one from each parent; during gamete production, only one of the two alleles will be present in each ovum or sperm
Term
linkage
Definition
refers to the inheritance, as a unit, of individual genes closely located on a chromosome; an exception to the Law of Independent Assortment
Term
locus
Definition
the location of an allele, or gene, on a chromosome
Term
matriline
Definition
DNA, such as mitochondrial DNA, whose inheritance can be traced from mother to daughter or to son
Term
meiosis
Definition
thr production of gametes through one DNA replcation and to cell (and nuclear) divisions, creating four haploid gametic cells
Term
messenger RNA (mRNA)
Definition
the molecules that are responsible for making a chemical copy of a gene needed for a specific protein, that is, for the transcription phase of protein synthesis
Term
microsattelites
Definition
specific loci in nuclear or organellar DNA that have repeated units of 1-4 base pairs in length; they can be used in various genetic studies
Term
mitochondria
Definition
energy producing (ATP) organelles in eukaryotic cells they possess their own independent DNA
Term
mitosis
Definition
the process of cellular and nuclear division the creates two identical diploid daughter cells
Term
monosomy
Definition
referes to the condition in which only one of a specific pair of chromosomes is present in a cell's nucleus
Term
noncoding DNA
Definition
sequences of a gene's DNA (introns) that are not coded to produce specific proteins and are excised before protein synthesis
Term
nondisjunctions
Definition
refers to the failture of the chromosomes to properly segregate during meiosis, creating some gametes with abnormal numbers of chromosomes
Term
nucleotide
Definition
the building block of DNA and RNA, comprised of a sugar, a phosphate group, and one of four nitrogen bases
Term
nucleus
Definition
a membrane-bound structure in eukaryotic cells that contains the genetic material
Term
paleogenetics
Definition
the application of genetics to the past, especially in anthropology and paleontology; the study for genetics in past organisms
Term
patriline
Definition
DNA whose inheritance can be traced from father to daughter or son, such as the Y chromosome, which passes from father to son
Term
peptide bond
Definition
chemical bond that joins amino acids into a protein chain
Term
pleiotropy
Definition
refers to one gene that affects more than one phenotypic trait
Term
polygenic
Definition
refers to one phenotypic trait that is affected by two or more genes
Term
polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
Definition
a technique that amplifies a small sample of DNA into a larger amount that can be used for various genetic tests
Term
polymorphism
Definition
refers to the presence of two or more separate phenotypes for a certain gene in the population
Term
polypeptide
Definition
also known as a protein, a chain of amino acids held together by multiple peptide bonds
Term
prokaryotes
Definition
single-celled organisms with no nuclear membranes or organelles and with their genetic material as a single strand in the cytoplasm
Term
recombination
Definition
the exchange of geneti material between homologous chromosomes, resulting from a cross-over event
Term
regulatory genes
Definition
those genes that determine when structural genes and other regulatory genes are turned on and off for protein synthesis
Term
regulatory proteins
Definition
proteins invovled in the expression of control genes
Term
replication
Definition
the process of copying nuclear DNA prior to cell division, so that each new daughter cell receives a complete complement of DNA
Term
ribonucleic acid (RNA)
Definition
a single-stranded molecule involved in protein synthesis, consisting of a phosphate, ribose sugar, and one of four nitrogen bases
Term
ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
Definition
a fundamental structural component of a ribosome
Term
ribosomes
Definition
the organelles attached to the surface of endoplasmic reticulum, located in the cytoplasm of a cell; they are the site of protein synthesis
Term
sex chromosomes
Definition
the pair of chromosomes that determine an organism's biological sex
Term
single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)
Definition
variations in the DNA sequence due to the change of a single nitrogen base
Term
somatic cells
Definition
diploid cells that form the organs, tissues, and other parts of an organism's body
Term
structural genes
Definition
genes coded to produce particular products, such as an enzyme or hormone, rather than for regulatory proteins
Term
structural proteins
Definition
proteins that form an organism's physical attributes
Term
thymine
Definition
one of four nitrogen bases that make up DNA; it pairs with adenine
Term
transcription
Definition
the first step of protein synthesis, involving the creation of mRNA based on the DNA template
Term
transfer RNA (tRNA)
Definition
the molecules that are responsible for transporting amino acids to the ribosomes during protein synthesis
Term
translation
Definition
the second step of protein synthesis, involving the transfer of amino acids by tRNA to the ribosomes, which are then added to the protein chain
Term
translocations
Definition
rearrangements of chromosomes due to the insertion of genetic material from one chromosome to another
Term
triplets
Definition
sequences of three nitrogen bases each in DNA< known as codons in mRNA
Term
trisomy
Definition
refers to the condition in which an additional chromosome exists with the homologous pair
Term
uracil
Definition
one of four nitrogen bases that make up RNA; it pairs with adenine
Term
zygote
Definition
the cell that results from a sperm's fertilization of an ovum
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