General Components
nitrogenous bases that bind to each other in DNA (A–T and C–G) and in RNA (A–U and C–G)
complementary bases
a region of DNA that encompasses the coding and non-coding DNA for a particular protein or protein family
gene
a section of DNA that specifically carries the code for direct translation into a polypeptide
coding DNA
a structure composed of DNA and protein that contains, along its length linear arrays of genes carrying genetic information
chromosome
the waist like constriction in a duplicated chromosome required for the movement of chromosomes during cell division
centromere
a section of DNA that carries information for when, where or how often its associated coding DNA is expressed
non-coding DNA
a short-lived molecule consisting of ribonucleotides; it plays an essential role in protein synthesis (as messenger RNA and transfer RNA) and as a structural component of ribosomes
ribonucleic acid (RNA)
the specific physical location of a gene on a chromosome
gene locus
a region of DNA upstream of a gene that binds enzymes that initiate transcription
promoter region
the basic building block of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) linked together by phosphodiester bonds; each nucleotide is made up of a five-carbon sugar molecule, a phosphate group and a nitrogenous base
nucleotide
a region at the end of a chromosome, characterised by repeated sequences of non-coding DNA
telomere
a section of DNA or mRNA that does not code for a polypeptide
intron
a section of DNA or mRNA that codes for a polypeptide
exon