Vocabulary
A segment of DNA that codes for a specific trait or function.
Gene
Where is DNA located in each of your cells?
Nucleus
A nucleic acid that plays an important role in the production of proteins
RNA
What are the two types of mutations?
Gene & Chromosome
Protein synthesis occurs on _____________.
Ribosomes
The basic building block of DNA, consisting of a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.
Nucleotide
When DNA coils up to be more easily moved around, it is called a ___________________.
Chromosome
Ribose
Certain factors in our environment can damage DNA, like sun or smoke.
Mutagen
Segments of DNA serve as templates to produce ____________ mRNA molecules
Complementary
An enzyme that unwinds the DNA double helix during DNA replication.
Helicase
An organized photo of a person's DNA is known as a _______________.
Karyotype
Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine and Uracil
You have a full set of DNA in every cell. You are constantly making new cells as you grow and heal, so your DNA is constantly being copied. Sometimes, the cell makes a mistake. This is called a _______________
Random Mutation
During ________________, transfer RNA molecules (tRNA) carry amino acids from the cytoplasm to the mRNA
protein synthesis
Different forms of a gene that may produce variations in traits.
Allele
Molecules
RNA converts the genetic information from DNA to a format used to build ____________.
Proteins
A _____________ occurs if the mutation does not affect the amino acid. Several amino acids can be signaled by multiple codons, and in certain mutations the nucleotides are changed but the resulting amino acid stays the same.
Silent mutation
Three nucleotide bases in mRNA that specify a particular amino acid.
Codon
The process by which an RNA molecule is made from a DNA template.
Transcription
One set of your DNA consists of about _______ chemical letters. These are known as bases.
3 billion
Name the three types of RNA.
Messenger RNA (mRNA)
Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
Transfer RNA (tRNA)
A ______________ occurs when an insertion or deletion mutation causes the entire “frame” to shift. If a cell can only interpret DNA in sets of 3 letters at time, then adding in one letter can cause the entire rest of the sequence to be misread.
Frameshift
After mRNA leaves the nucleus, it is on its way to the ____________.
Cytoplasm