Gregor Mendel

"Father of genetics", published findings in 1866

Gene

a genetic factor that helps determine a characteristic

Allele

one of two or more alternate forms of a gene

Genotype

set of alleles that an individual organism

Phenotype

the appearance of a character

Karyotype

a picture of all condensed chromosomes inside a cell

Karyotyping

number and type of chromosomes present

Autosome

non-sex chromosomes; chromosomes number 1-22 that have nothing to do with sex determination

Barr Body

the additional X chromosome(s) that are purposefully condensed to the point that they are basically inaccessible by the cell.

Nondisjunction

when two chromosomes are not properly separated during metaphase.

Homogenization

where cell walls/membranes break apart and denatures proteins

ex. blending Strawberrys with detergent

Deproteinization

where histones are stripped away from DNA

ex. adding meat tenderizer

Precipitation

where DNA is made insoluble so it comes out of the solution and can be isolated

Phosphoester Bonds

what the sugar-phosphate backbone that is held together by covelent bonds in nucleotides are called

Denaturation of DNA

where hydrogen bonds between nitrogenous bases are broken apart

Helicase

an enzyme that unzips the DNA or breaks hydrogen bonds between nitrogenous bases.

Single-Strand Binding Proteins

what keeps the two strands of DNA from pairing back together

Primase

an enzyme that lays down RNA primer

DNA Polymerase

an enzyme that can use the template of the parent strand and the RNA primer to synthesize the new DNA strand

Okazaki Fragments

caused by the lagging strand having to start at many places

DNA Characteristics

- ATCG

- double stranded

- deoxyribose (2' carbon has H attached)

RNA Characteristics

- AUCG

- single stranded

- ribose (2' OH group)

Elongation

where 1 side of the DNA strand serves as a template, it moves from 5’ to 3’, and makes complementary mRNA

Initiation

where RNA polymerase binds to the promoter region and unwinds DNA

Termination

where transcription ends

Coding Strand

another name for the template strand

the one side of the DNA strand serves as a template

Translation

mRNA to protein

Codon

three consecutive nucleotides that code for one amino acid

Degenerate

more than one codon can code for the same amino acid

Initiation Codon

AUG is always the start codon and it codes for methionine

Stop Codons

UGA, UAG, UAA do not code for an amino acid, but do code for termination of translation

Trisomy 21

Down Syndrome

Trisomy 18

Edwards Syndrome

What to know about Nondisjunction of Sex Chromosomes

- if there was abnormal contribution by sperm or egg

- what the genotype of the zygote would be

- the expected sex assigned at birth

- the name of the disorder

- characteristics of that disorder.

Process of DNA Isolation in order

1. Homogenization

2. Deproteinization

3. Precipitation

Order of Enzymes Used in Leading Strand of DNA Replication

1. Helicase

2. Single-strand binding proteins

3. primase

4. DNA polymerase

Centra Dogma of Molecular Biology

DNA --> RNA --> PROTEIN

What Happens During Trascription

1. DNA cannot leave the nucleus

2. the information stored in DNA does need to leave the nucleus for cells to function

3. mRNA carries that message from the nucleus to the cytoplasm (in eukaryotes)

Process of Transcription in order

1. initiation

2. elongation

3. termination