Life Science “The Molecular Basis of Heredity”. Amino Acid Any of the organic acids that are the chief component of proteins, either manufactured by cells.

Life Science“The Molecular Basis of Heredity”

Amino Acid

Any of the organic acids that are the chief component of proteins, either

manufactured by cells or ingested by the organism.

Click here to reveal the definition!

Anticodon

A three-based sequence on tRNA that binds to a complementary three-base

sequence on mRNA.Click here to reveal the definition!

Autosomal Chromosome

Any of the non-sex chromosomes.Click here to reveal the definition!

Chromatin

Numerous strands of DNA, coiled and bunched together; the individual strands

that make up chromosomes.Click here to reveal the definition!

Chromosome

Any of the tubelike bodies within the nucleus containing DNA and protein; chromosomes carry the genetic code for an organism’s

inherited characteristics.


Codon

A three-based sequence on mRNA that tRNA uses to provide the correct amino

acid.Click here to reveal the definition!

Daughter Cell

A cell produced from a parent cell by mitosis or meiosis.


Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)

A double-stranded nucleic acid molecule that contains the genetic code.


Diploid

A cell that has two sets of chromosomes.


DNA Polymerase

An enzyme the moves along a stand of DNA and repairs or replicates the DNA.


Dominant Allele

The form of a trait that is always expressed when at least one allele for it

is present.Click here to reveal the definition!

Fertilization

The process of union of two gametes, in which the diploid chromosome number

is restored.Click here to reveal the definition!

First Filial (F1)Generation

The first hybrid offspring in a genetic cross fertilization.


Gamete

A sex cell containing only half the usual number of chromosomes; in sexual reproduction, the genetic material from the male gamete (sperm) combines

with genetic material from the female gamete (egg) to create new offspring.


Gene

A DNA sequence that codes for a particular protein and, therefore, a

specific trait.Click here to reveal the definition!

Gene Expression

The appearance of a particular trait in an organism through the process of DNA

transcription and protein synthesis.Click here to reveal the definition!

Genotype

The combination of dominant and recessive genes (alleles) in an

organism’s cells.Click here to reveal the definition!

Germ Cell

A cell that undergoes meiosis to produce gametes.


Haploid

A cell, such as a gamete, that has only one set of chromosomes.


Helicase

A class of enzyme that separates strands of nucleic acid at the start of

DNA replication and RNA transcription.Click here to reveal the definition!

Homologous

Similar or matched in appearance or structure.


Meiosis

A process that divides a cell’s nucleus, resulting in sex cells (gametes) that

have half the chromosomes of a regular cell.


Messenger RNA (mRNA)

A type of RNA that transcribes a gene and then carries that information to the

ribosomes for protein synthesis.Click here to reveal the definition!

Mitosis

The process within cell division by which the original nucleus gives rise to two identical daughter nuclei, each with the same number of chromosomes as the original nucleus; this type of division is required for

cell growth and repair.


Nucleotide

The basic unit of nucleic acid; made of sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base; a

ringlike structure of carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen.


Parent Cell

A cell that gives rise to daughter cells through mitosis and meiosis.


Parent (P) Generation

The homozygous parents in a genetic cross-fertilization; their offspring are

called the F1 generation.Click here to reveal the definition!

Pedigree

A chart showing heritable traits in parents and offspring; may contain

information of individuals’ phenotypes or genotypes.


Phenotype

A physical trait of an organism that results from its genetic makeup.


Punnett Square

A grid used to show the possible gene combinations from the crossing of two

genotypes.Click here to reveal the definition!

Recessive Allele

A trait that is expressed only when a dominant allele is not present.


Replication

A process in which a cell makes a copy of its DNA before dividing.


Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)

Any of the nucleic acids containing ribose and replacing thymine and uracil that assist in protein manufacture and

cellular control.


RNA Polymerase

An enzyme that reads DNA during transcription and combines

complementary bases into an mRNA strand.


Second Filial (F2) Generation

Offspring the result from interbreeding a hybrid F1 generation. Click here to reveal the definition!

Sex Chromosome

A chromosome that determines sex; in human, a female has two X

chromosomes and a male has one X and one Y chromosome.


Somatic Cell

Any of the cells that make up the body tissues and contains a complete set of a organism’s chromosome pairs; all cells

except gametes.


Transcription

The first stage of gene expression during which mRNA is made; the process that occurs when a DNA sequence is encoded as an mRNA

sequence.


Transfer RNA (tRNA)

An RNA molecule that follows the codes of the mRNA to assemble amino acids

into proteins.Click here to reveal the definition!

Translation

The second stage of gene expression during which two kinds of RNA work

together to assemble amino acids into proteins.


Zygote

A cell produced by the union of two gametes.


Life Science “The Molecular Basis of Heredity”. Amino Acid Any of the organic acids that are the chief component of proteins, either manufactured by cells.

Documents

dna sequence

protein chromosomes

deoxyribonucleic acid

stand of dna

dna polymerase

process of dna transcription

parent cell

haploida cell