Term
|
Definition
| all of the chromosomes and DNA sequences that an organism or species can possess; stores genetic instructions |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the study of heredity and variability |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| at the molecular level, the gene contains the instructions to make RNA or a protein |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a characteristic that an organism displays. The three categories are morphological, physiological and behavioral. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a macromolecule that forms RNA or DNA and is composed of repeating nucleotides; which are composed of a phosphate, a sugar and a base |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a functional unit composed of one or more polypeptides. Polypeptides are a sequence of amino acids that is the product of mRNA translation. One or more polypeptides fold and associate with each other to form a protein. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| an organic molecule that is a simple or multiple sugar. The formula is a multiple of C(H2O). |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| an organic molecule that is insoluble in water and comprises the larger % of cell membranes |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a large organic molecule composed of smaller building blocks, examples are DNA, RNA, proteins and large carbohydrates |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the collection of all the proteins that a given cell or species can make |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a protein that functions to accelerate chemical reactions within a cell |
|
|
Term
| deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) |
|
Definition
| double stranded structure that is the genetic material. Each strand is composed of repeating units of deoxyribonucleotides. Bases are A,T,C and G. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the base unit of DNA and RNA, composed of a sugar, a phosphate group and a base (A,T,U,C or G) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a sequence of amino acids that is the product of mRNA translation. One or more polypeptides fold and associate with each other to form a protein. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the correspondence between a codon and its functional role during translation, each sequence of three bases is a codon that codes for a particular amino acid or begins or ends translation |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| contains an amino group, a carboxyl group and a side chain; it is a building block of polypeptides |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the structure within the living cell that contains the DNA and its structural proteins |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the process by which the information in a gene is accessed, to synthesize RNA followed by proteins, to eventually affect the phenotype of the organism |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the process of synthesizing mRNA from the DNA template |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a nucleic acid whose composition is very similar to DNA with the exception that the Uracil base is used in lieu of the Thymine base; nucleotide sequence that is transcribed from DNA |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| genes that produce mRNA and encode polypeptides |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the ribonucleotide sequence that contains the instructions for the synthesis of a polypeptide |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the synthesis of a polypeptide using the ribosome, the codon from mRNA and tRNA |
|
|
Term
| central dogma of genetics |
|
Definition
| DNA is transcribed to mRNA which is translated to polypeptides which make proteins |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a trait that affects the physical appearance of an organism (such as eye color) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a trait that affects a cellular or body function (such as glucose metabolism) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a trait that involves behavior, such as learning |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the perspective of life from the view of individual molecules (groups of bound atoms), for example how many protein molecules are in a cell |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| an observation made from the perspective of a cell (in an organ in an organism) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the observation point that is from the perspective of the whole creature (microbe, dog or cat for example) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a group of organisms that maintains a distinctive set of attributes in nature |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the level of observation includes the whole set of species of an organism (or organisms capable of interbreeding) in a community |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| an alternative form of a specific gene, which determines variation |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| differences among members of the same species or among different species |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a form or phenotype in a population, for example red eyes versus white eyes |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a relatively small variation that affects only a single gene |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the surroundings that an organism experiences |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a human genetic disorder that arises from a defect in phenylalanine hydroxylase |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| an organism or cell that contains two copies of each type of chromosome |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| one of the chromosomes in a pair that derived from the same ancestral gene |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| any cell in the body that is not a germ-line cell (those cells that give rise to gametes) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a reproductive cell that can unite with another reproductive cell to form a zygote; normally haploid |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| contains a single set of chromosomes; normally a reproductive cell |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the accumulation of genetic changes in a species or population over the course of many generations |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the changes in the genetic makeup of a population from one generation to the next |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the process whereby differential fitness acts on the gene pool because if a beneficial allele is created, it may become prevalent and be passed on because those who possess it are more fit for survival |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| an organism studied by many scientists so that the properties of the given species may be determined over time |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| mating two individuals and analyzing their offspring in an attempt to understand how traits are passed from parent to offspring |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the study of mutant genes that have abnormal functions |
|
|
Term
| loss-of-function mutation |
|
Definition
| a change in a genetic sequence that creates a loss in physiology |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a variation in a gene that encodes for an RNA or protein that is compromised in physiology |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| using statistical methods to determine if the data from an experiment are consistent with a hypothesis |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a process that scientists follow to reach verifiable conclusions |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| does not require a hypothesis; the goal is to collect data to be able to formulate a hypothesis |
|
|
