Mutations
Any change in the DNA sequence of an organism.
What is a mutation?
The process of choosing organisms with desired traits to breed together.
What is selective breeding?
These are the two primary stages of protein synthesis.
What are transcription and translation?
Most enzyme names end with this three-letter suffix.
What is -ase?
This is the spiraling, twisted-ladder shape of the DNA molecule.
What is a double helix?
A mutation that involves the substitution of a single nucleotide
What is a point mutation?
DNA that has been formed artificially by combining constituents from different organisms.
What is recombinant DNA?
This cell organelle is the actual "factory" where proteins are assembled.
What is a ribosome?
Enzymes work by lowering this, which is the "energy hurdle" required to start a chemical reaction.
What is activation energy?
These are the four nitrogenous bases found in DNA.
What are Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, and Guanine?
Mutations in these types of cells can be passed down to offspring.
What are germ cells (or gametes)?
This laboratory technique is used to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment.
What is PCR
This specific type of RNA carries the "blueprint" or genetic code from the nucleus to the ribosome.
What is mRNA?
This is the specific location on an enzyme where the substrate binds.
What is the active site?
In RNA, this nitrogenous base replaces Thymine.
What is Uracil?
This disorder is caused by a single point mutation in the hemoglobin gene, causing red blood cells to become misshapen.
What is sickle cell anemia?
This powerful gene-editing tool allows scientists to "cut and paste" DNA sequences with high precision.
What is CRISPR-Cas9?
A sequence of three nucleotides on an mRNA strand that codes for a specific amino acid.
What is codon?
When an enzyme loses its shape due to extreme heat or pH, it is said to be this.
What is denatured?
These weak bonds hold the two strands of DNA together between the nitrogenous bases.
What are hydrogen bonds?
This condition occurs when a person has an extra copy of chromosome 21, often due to nondisjunction.
What is Down Syndrome
These small, circular DNA molecules are often used as vectors to carry foreign genes into bacteria.
What are plasmids?
During translation, this molecule uses its anticodon to ensure the correct amino acid is added to the growing chain.
What is tRNA?
This type of inhibitor binds to a site other than the active site, changing the enzyme's shape so it can no longer function.
What is a non-competitive inhibitor?
She was the scientist whose "Photo 51" was critical to discovering the structure of DNA, though she was initially overlooked for the Nobel Prize.
Who is Rosalind Franklin?