Molecular Biology: Key Terms and Concepts

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Questions and Answers

What is an amino acid?

The monomer that forms polypeptide chains and proteins.

What is an anticodon?

A set of three bases on tRNA that are complementary to codons in mRNA.

What is a biomacromolecule?

A large biological polymer, such as a protein, a nucleic acid, or a carbohydrate.

What is a coding region?

<p>The introns and exons of a gene that are transcribed into pre-mRNA.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'complementary' mean in genetics?

<p>The term used to describe the fact that a nitrogenous base can only pair with one other nitrogenous base (cytosine is complementary to guanine, adenine is complementary to thymine).</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a condensation reaction reaction?

<p>Reaction in which two molecules are joined to make a larger molecule, resulting in the loss of a smaller molecule as another product (in organisms, this is usually water). Also known as dehydration reaction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean for a genetic code to be degenerate?

<p>Describes a genetic code in which multiple codons code for the same amino acid; also referred to as redundant.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an enzyme?

<p>A type of protein, also referred to as a biological catalyst, that speeds up reactions within an organism by lowering activation energy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is gene expression?

<p>Conversion of the code in DNA of a gene into a protein through protein synthesis.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a monomer?

<p>A molecule that forms bonds with other identical molecules as the repeating units that make up a polymer.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a mutation?

<p>A permanent change in the nucleotide sequence of a section of DNA.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a nucleotide?

<p>The monomer (building block) of nucleic acids which are joined together to form DNA or RNA (polymers); consists of a phosphate group, sugar and nitrogenous base.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an operator?

<p>A section of DNA code where the repressor protein can bind.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a peptide bond?

<p>A chemical bond between two amino acids.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a polypeptide?

<p>A long chain of amino acids forming part of a protein.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a regulatory gene?

<p>A region of DNA that codes for a regulatory protein, which controls the expression of other genes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a repressor?

<p>A regulatory protein that binds to DNA, inhibiting transcription.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a structural gene?

<p>A region of DNA that codes for a protein that performs a specific function for a cell or organism.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a terminator?

<p>The region of a gene at which transcription stops and the RNA polymerase dissociates from the strand.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is transcription?

<p>The process through which DNA is converted to messenger RNA (mRNA) and the genetic code in the DNA is copied to the mRNA.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a universal triplet codon?

<p>The genetic coding system based on codons with three bases, shared by most organisms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

An amino acid is what?

<p>The monomer that forms polypeptide chains and proteins</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the coding region of a gene?

<p>The introns and exons of a gene that are transcribed into pre-mRNA</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does complementary mean, in the context of nitrogenous bases?

<p>The term used to describe the fact that a nitrogenous base can only pair with one other nitrogenous base (cytosine is complementary to guanine, adenine is complementary to thymine)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a condensation or dehydration reaction?

<p>A reaction in which two molecules are joined to make a larger molecule, resulting in the loss of a smaller molecule as another product (in organisms, this is usually water)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by gene expression?

<p>Conversion of the code in DNA of a gene into a protein through protein synthesis</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean for nitrogenous bases to be complementary?

<p>The term used to describe the fact that a nitrogenous base can only pair with one other nitrogenous base (cytosine is complementary to guanine, adenine is complementary to thymine).</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a condensation reaction (dehydration reaction)?

<p>A reaction in which two molecules are joined to make a larger molecule, resulting in the loss of a smaller molecule as another product (in organisms, this is usually water).</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Amino acid

The monomer that forms polypeptide chains and proteins.

Anticodon

A set of three bases on tRNA that are complementary to codons in mRNA.

Biomacromolecule

A large biological polymer, such as a protein, a nucleic acid, or a carbohydrate.

Coding region

The introns and exons of a gene that are transcribed into pre-mRNA.

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Codon

A set of three bases in mRNA that code for a specific amino acid.

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Complementary

Describes the fact that a nitrogenous base can only pair with one other nitrogenous base (cytosine is complementary to guanine, adenine is complementary to thymine).

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Condensation reaction

A reaction in which two molecules are joined to make a larger molecule, resulting in the loss of a smaller molecule as another product (in organisms, this is usually water).

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Degenerate

Describes a genetic code in which multiple codons code for the same amino acid; also referred to as redundant.

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Enzyme

A type of protein, also referred to as a biological catalyst, that speeds up reactions within an organism by lowering activation energy.

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Exon

A region of a gene that contains genetic information that codes for the specific protein to be synthesised.

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Gene expression

Conversion of the code in DNA of a gene into a protein through protein synthesis.

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Intron

A region of a gene that contains sequences that do not code for the protein to be expressed.

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Monomer

A molecule that forms bonds with other identical molecules as the repeating units that make up a polymer.

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Mutation

A permanent change in the nucleotide sequence of a section of DNA.

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Nucleotide

The monomer (building block) of nucleic acids which are joined together to form DNA or RNA (polymers); consists of a phosphate group, sugar and nitrogenous base.

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Operator

A section of DNA code where the repressor protein can bind.

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Operon

A series of genes under the control of a single promoter and operator.

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Peptide bond

A chemical bond between two amino acids.

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Polymer

A molecule made up of a large number of smaller, repeating units.

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Polypeptide

A long chain of amino acids forming part of a protein.

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Promoter

The region of a gene at which RNA polymerase binds, to initiate transcription.

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Proteome

The complete collection of proteins within an organism at a given time.

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Regulatory gene

A region of DNA that codes for a regulatory protein, which controls the expression of other genes.

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Repressor

A regulatory protein that binds to DNA, inhibiting transcription.

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Structural gene

A region of DNA that codes for a protein that performs a specific function for a cell or organism.

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Terminator

The region of a gene at which transcription stops and the RNA polymerase dissociates from the strand.

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Transcription

The process through which DNA is converted to messenger RNA (mRNA) and the genetic code in the DNA is copied to the mRNA.

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Translation

The process through which the information in mRNA is converted into a sequence of amino acids to synthesise a protein.

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Universal triplet codon

The genetic coding system based on codons with three bases, shared by most organisms.

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Study Notes

  • These notes cover key biology terms related to molecular biology, genetics, and protein synthesis

Core Concepts

  • Amino Acid: The monomer that forms polypeptide chains and proteins.
  • Biomacromolecule: A large biological polymer like a protein, nucleic acid, or carbohydrate.
  • Monomer: A molecule that bonds with identical molecules to form a polymer.
  • Polymer: A molecule composed of many smaller, repeating units (monomers).

Genetic Code & Protein Synthesis

  • Codon: A set of three bases in mRNA that codes for a specific amino acid.
  • Anticodon: A set of three bases on tRNA complementary to codons in mRNA.
  • Degenerate (Redundant) Code: Multiple codons code for the same amino acid.
  • Universal Triplet Codon: A genetic coding system using three-base codons, shared by most organisms.
  • Transcription: DNA is converted to messenger RNA (mRNA), copying the genetic code.
  • Translation: Information in mRNA is converted into a sequence of amino acids to synthesize a protein.
  • Polypeptide: A long chain of amino acids that forms part of a protein.
  • Peptide Bond: A chemical bond between two amino acids.
  • Gene Expression: The conversion of DNA code into a protein through protein synthesis.

Gene Structure & Function

  • Coding Region: The introns and exons of a gene transcribed into pre-mRNA.
  • Exon: A region of a gene containing genetic information that codes for a specific protein.
  • Intron: A region of a gene with sequences that do not code for the expressed protein.
  • Promoter: The region of a gene where RNA polymerase binds to start transcription.
  • Terminator: The region of a gene where transcription stops, and RNA polymerase detaches.
  • Structural Gene: A region of DNA that codes for a protein with a specific function for a cell or organism.
  • Regulatory Gene: A region of DNA that codes for a regulatory protein controlling the expression of other genes.
  • Operator: A section of DNA code where a repressor protein can bind.
  • Operon: A series of genes controlled by a single promoter and operator.

Regulation & Mutation

  • Repressor: A regulatory protein that binds to DNA, inhibiting transcription.
  • Mutation: A permanent change in the nucleotide sequence of a section of DNA.

Molecules & Reactions

  • Nucleotide: The monomer of nucleic acids (DNA or RNA), consisting of a phosphate group, sugar, and nitrogenous base.
  • Complementary: A nitrogenous base can only pair with one other (cytosine with guanine, adenine with thymine).
  • Condensation (Dehydration) Reaction: Two molecules join to form a larger molecule, releasing a smaller molecule (usually water).
  • Enzyme: A protein (biological catalyst) that speeds up reactions by lowering activation energy.

Genome & Proteome

  • Proteome: The complete collection of proteins within an organism at a given time.

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