Structural Integrity
Structure of DNA; twisted ladder/ribbon
Double Helix
Links together free nucleotides that have bases complementary to the template strand; prevents permanent damage by acting as a proofreader when uncomplimentary N bases become paired
DNA Polymerase III
Bond between the complementary N bases
H Bond
Basic unit of nucleic acids; made of a phosphate group, a sugar, and a nitrogen base
Nucleotide
The two phases of protein synthesis; in the first, mRNA codes for a gene on DNA, carrying it out into the cytoplasm; in the second, tRNA sends amino acids to the mRNA which are fused into long-chain proteins on a ribosome with the help of rRNA
Transcription and Translation
Reads DNA code and carries it to ribosomes
mRNA
Unwinds helix by breaking H bonds between complementary base pairs
DNA Helicase
Strand of DNA that is replicated in the 3' to 5' direction; DNA is added to this strand continuously
Leading Strand
Nitrogen base found in RNA, but not DNA; replaces thymine in RNA
Uracil
In transcription, mRNA molecule moves away from parent DNA strand (the two strands of which then rejoin), moves through nuclear membrane, and carries N base code to ribosomes in cytoplasm; in translation, a stop codon turns protein synthesis off
Termination
Parallel strands, but they run in opposite directions
Anti-Parallel
Allows nucleotides to attach along mRNA; only bonds to one template strand
RNA Polymerase
Strand of DNA whose direction of synthesis is opposite to the replication fork
Lagging Strand
Nitrogen base that has two rings; adenine and guanine
Purine
In transcription, RNA polymerase binds to promoter sequence on DNA, which allows nucleotides to attach along mRNA; in translation, mRNA attaches itself to ribosomes, and initiator codon turns on protein synthesis
Initiation
Picks up amino acids in cytoplasm and carries them to mRNA
tRNA
Glues together the sugar-phosphate backbone and DNA fragments
Half old, half new DNA when replicated
Semiconservative
Nitrogen base that has one ring; cytosine and thymine
Pyrimidine
In transcription, DNA molecule in nucleus unzips, and nucleotides from mRNA find appropriate pair by using a template strand of DNA as a blueprint. mRNA nucleotides are soon joined into a long chain; in translation, tRNA picks up amino acids and carries them to mRNA. mRNA codon and tRNA anticodon base pairs match, and amino acids from tRNA are fused into long-chain proteins on ribosome with the help of rRNA
Elongation
Help to fuse amino acids together to form long chain proteins on the ribosome
rRNA
Enzyme whose only function is to prevent permanent damage by acting as a proofreader when uncomplimentary N bases become paired
DNA Polymerase I
Point where the two strands of DNA separate
Replication Fork
Blocks of 3 nucleotides decoded into a sequence of amino acids
mRNA Codon
Blocks of 3 nucleotides which match with opposing base pairs on mRNA codons to decode amino acid sequences
tRNA Anticodons