DNA and Genetics Overview

A specific segment of DNA that provides instructions for building a protein.

The building block of DNA, composed of a sugar, a phosphate, and a nitrogenous base.

A set of rules for translating nucleotide sequences into amino acid sequences.

A sequence of three nucleotides that specifies a particular amino acid.

The process of building proteins from amino acids, based on the genetic code.

The flow of genetic information: DNA to RNA to protein.

Different versions of a gene.

The passing on of genes from parents to offspring.

The order of nitrogenous bases (adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine) in a DNA molecule.

The process of creating an exact copy of a DNA molecule.

Each new DNA molecule consists of one original strand and one newly synthesized strand.

Tightly coiled DNA and proteins that carry genetic information.

Diseases caused by mutations, or changes, in the DNA sequence.

Manipulating genes to create organisms with desired traits.

Changes in the DNA sequence that can affect protein function.

A pattern of inheritance where neither allele is completely dominant, resulting in a blended phenotype.

A pattern of inheritance where both alleles are expressed equally, leading to a phenotype that exhibits both traits.

When multiple genes contribute to a single trait, leading to a wide range of phenotypes.

Traits controlled by genes located on sex chromosomes (X or Y), often resulting in different expression in males and females.

DNA's structure consists of two strands of nucleotides twisted around each other, forming a spiral shape.

Specific base pairings in DNA: Adenine (A) always pairs with Thymine (T), and Guanine (G) always pairs with Cytosine (C).

Weak bonds that hold the two DNA strands together, formed between the nitrogenous bases.

The two strands of DNA run in opposite directions, like a highway with traffic flowing in opposite lanes.

The five-carbon sugar that forms the backbone of the DNA strand.

The component of a nucleotide attached to the sugar, crucial for linking nucleotides together.

Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) are antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV. They block the action of reverse transcriptase, an enzyme essential for HIV replication. This prevents the virus from converting its RNA into DNA, which is necessary for the virus to integrate into the host cell's genome.

Topoisomerases are enzymes involved in DNA replication. They help to unwind and re-wind DNA strands during replication. Some chemotherapeutic drugs specifically target topoisomerases, inhibiting their function and halting cancer cell growth.

DNA is packaged within chromosomes through a series of coiling and supercoiling processes facilitated by histone proteins. This compacting allows the incredibly long DNA molecule to fit inside the nucleus of a cell.

Epigenetics involves chemical modifications to DNA and associated histone proteins that influence gene expression without altering the actual DNA sequence. These modifications can be inherited and play roles in development and disease.

Chromosomal inheritance refers to the passing of chromosomes from parents to offspring. Errors in this process can lead to genetic variations and disorders. These errors include deletions, duplications, translocations, and inversions of chromosomal segments.

The Central Dogma describes the flow of genetic information within a cell. It states: DNA is replicated to create more DNA. DNA is transcribed into RNA. RNA is translated into protein. This process ensures that genetic information is passed from DNA to proteins, the building blocks of life.

The 5' and 3' refer to the carbon atoms in the deoxyribose sugar molecule of DNA. These ends are crucial for DNA replication, as DNA polymerase can only add nucleotides to the 3' end.

Mendelian traits are governed by a single gene with clear dominant/recessive patterns, while complex traits are influenced by multiple genes and environmental factors. The sources primarily focus on Mendelian inheritance, but many human traits, like height and intelligence, are complex.

The two strands of DNA run in opposite directions, one strand runs 5' to 3', while the other runs 3' to 5'. This arrangement is essential for DNA replication.

The backbone of each DNA strand is made of alternating sugar (deoxyribose) and phosphate groups. The nitrogenous bases extend inward from this backbone, forming the rungs of the DNA ladder.

The four nitrogenous bases in DNA are adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). They form the 'rungs' of the DNA ladder and are responsible for carrying genetic information.

A specific segment of DNA that carries the instructions for building and maintaining a particular protein. Each gene contains a specific set of nucleotides that code for a particular protein.

A tightly coiled structure found in eukaryotic cells that carries genetic information. Essentially, it's a DNA molecule wrapped around proteins for efficient storage and transmission during cell division.

The point where the two DNA strands separate during replication. It is like a Y-shaped structure where DNA polymerase can access the strands and copy them.

Due to the antiparallel nature of DNA, one strand (leading strand) is continuously replicated, while the other (lagging strand) is replicated discontinuously in small fragments called Okazaki fragments.

Short DNA fragments synthesized on the lagging strand during DNA replication. They are later joined together by an enzyme called DNA ligase.