Evidence for DNA as Genetic Material

A change in an organism's genetic makeup and visible traits caused by the uptake of external DNA.

A virus that infects bacteria.

Hershey and Chase's experiments confirmed DNA, not protein, is the genetic material in viruses.

In DNA, the amount of adenine (A) equals the amount of thymine (T), and the amount of guanine (G) equals the amount of cytosine (C).

The percentages of bases (A, T, G, and C) differ between species.

A type of reproduction where two parents contribute genetic material to produce offspring with unique combinations of genes.

A type of reproduction where a single parent produces offspring that are genetically identical copies of itself.

The union of a male gamete (sperm) and a female gamete (egg) to form a zygote.

Specialized reproductive cells (sperm and egg) that contain half the number of chromosomes of a normal cell.

The series of stages that occur in an organism's reproductive history, from the creation of a new individual to the production of its own offspring.

A display of an organism's chromosomes arranged in pairs based on size and shape.

Two chromosomes in a pair that have the same length, centromere position, and genes, but may have different alleles.

A type of cell division that produces four daughter cells, each with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell.

The process by which a parent cell divides into two or more daughter cells.

The division of the cytoplasm after nuclear division, resulting in the formation of two daughter cells.

The longest phase of the cell cycle where the cell prepares for division.

The first gap phase of interphase, where the cell grows and carries out its normal metabolic activities.

The synthesis phase of interphase, where the cell replicates its DNA, ensuring each daughter cell receives a complete copy of the genome.

The second gap phase of interphase, where the cell continues to grow and prepares for mitosis, ensuring all the necessary components for division are ready.

The first stage of mitosis, characterized by the condensation of chromosomes, disappearance of the nucleoli, and formation of the mitotic spindle.

The stage of mitosis where the nuclear envelope breaks down, microtubules attach to kinetochores, and chromosomes begin to move towards the metaphase plate.

The stage of mitosis where the chromosomes align at the metaphase plate, a plane equidistant from the two poles of the spindle.

The stage of mitosis where the sister chromatids separate and move to opposite poles of the cell.

The final stage of mitosis, where the chromosomes arrive at the poles of the cell, the nuclear envelope reforms, and the nucleoli reappear.

The indentation of the plasma membrane during cytokinesis in animal cells, resulting in the separation of the two daughter cells.

The exchange of genetic material between non-sister chromatids during Prophase I of meiosis.

The pairing of homologous chromosomes during Prophase I, facilitated by the synaptonemal complex.

The random orientation of homologous chromosome pairs at metaphase I, ensuring genetic variation.

Chromosomes resulting from crossing over, containing genetic material from both parents.

The random union of sperm and egg, contributing to genetic variation in offspring.

The diversity of genetic information within populations, arising from meiosis and fertilization.

Having a single set of chromosomes (n).

Having two sets of chromosomes (2n).

A change in a single nucleotide-pair of a gene. It's like a typo in the DNA code.

A point mutation that alters a codon but still translates to the same amino acid. No change in the protein sequence.

A point mutation that changes one amino acid to another, potentially affecting the protein's function.

A point mutation that turns a codon for an amino acid into a stop codon, prematurely ending protein synthesis.

Insertions or deletions of nucleotides in a gene that shift the reading frame, altering the translation of all subsequent codons.

Agents like radiation or chemicals that can cause mutations by damaging DNA.

Targeting specific genes in a predictable way, allowing for precise modifications to DNA.

A system for gene editing using a bacterial protein, Cas9, which cuts DNA at specific locations.

CRISPR-Cas9 evolved in bacteria to defend against viruses, acting as a defense system against viral infections.

CRISPR technology has revolutionary potential in medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology.

Adenine (A) and Guanine (G) are nitrogenous bases with two organic rings.

Cytosine (C) and Thymine (T) are nitrogenous bases with a single organic ring.

Each daughter DNA molecule contains one original strand from the parent molecule and one newly synthesized strand.

The Y-shaped region where the parental DNA strands separate and are unwound during replication.

The enzyme that adds nucleotides to the growing DNA strand during replication.

The new DNA strand synthesized continuously in the 5' to 3' direction towards the replication fork.

The new DNA strand synthesized discontinuously in short fragments (Okazaki fragments) in the 5' to 3' direction away from the replication fork.

Short segments of DNA synthesized on the lagging strand, later joined together to form a complete strand.

Repetitive DNA sequences at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes that protect the ends from degradation and prevent them from fusing with other chromosomes.

The process by which DNA directs the synthesis of proteins, including the two stages: transcription and translation.